The controversy over the removal of Dadoji Konddev’s statue from Lal Mahal in Pune is far from over.
The controversy over the removal of Dadoji Konddev’s statue from Lal Mahal in Pune is far from over.
Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has claimed that he has enough evidence to prove that Dadoji was the guru of Shivaji Maharaj and that he will bring it out before the public at an appropriate time.
In a special interview given to a Marathi weekly, he said that his party is proud of Shivaji’s history and that he will not allow anyone to demean it. “You do not need to take a stand on history. Historical truths do not change as per what you think. Research and verification of papers are the only ways of learning this truth. We have been learning since childhood that Dadoji is Shivaji’s guru. Everybody knows the Samarth Ramdas’ stand on Swarajya. Just because some people do not like it does not make it wrong or unhistorical,” said Thackeray.
Uddhav has given examples of Samatha Vagdevta Mandir in Dhule district, where numerous historical documents have been preserved. “There are a number of evidences of Swarajya. I have seen them personally. And I will bring them out soon,” he claimed.
The Sena has been opposing the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) decision to remove Dadoji’s statue from Lal Mahal. The party, along with its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had even called for a Pune bandh after the PMC removed the statue overnight.
Thackeray has also lashed out at the government for being apathetic towards the preservation of historical documents. “In reality, it was possible to have numerous excavations and search operations in Maharashtra. Unfortunately, most of the evidences and structures from Shivaji’s period have been destroyed. We need to have a proper perspective to analyse history. Unfortunately, we lack it,” he said.
He also made it clear that the Sena has no intention to indulge in caste-based politics on this issue. “I am not sure whether such issues will help them in politics, but such things cannot change the history for sure,” he added.
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