Shivaji posters hit police roadblock

The Shiv Sena’s plan to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Shivaji’s defeat of Afzal Khan by putting up posters depicting Khan’s killing all over the city has come a cropper, with the Mumbai police and the BMC refusing permission. The posters earlier led to communal clashes in Sangli and Kolhapur.

On Monday, Sena corporators gheraoed acting municipal commissioner RA Rajeev in the corporation. Joint commissioner of police (law and order)  Himanshu Roy had written to Rajeev asking him not to allow the posters to be put up without police permission. Rajeev circulated the letter to all ward offices and told them to act promptly, effectively banning the posters.

Sunil Prabhu, leader of the house in the BMC, condemned the move: “The BMC and the police cannot stop the Shiv Sena from displaying the posters,” he said.

Congress and NCP leaders supported Rajeev, and matters came to a head when Sena corporator Shubhangi Shirke allegedly asked Congress-NCP corporators if Afzal Khan was their forefather, resulting in a furore. After adjourning the house once for 10 minutes, mayor Shubha Raul was finally forced to adjourn for the day.