Uddhav Thackeray criticises decision to remove Dadoji Konddeo statue in Pune

Shiv Sena executive chief Uddhav Thackeray today criticised a decision of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to remove statue of Dadoji Konddeo, known as Chhatrapati Shivaji's guru from Lal Mahal.

"Who are they to decide this...who gave them right to change the history. The Congress-NCP ruling government has taken the decision to divert public attention from corruption cases and scams," Uddhav said.

Following controversy over the statue of Konddeo which stood with those of Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Jijabai in Lal Mahal, the general body of PMC yesterday passed a resolution to remove it.

"The decision shows that they (Congress-NCP) do not respect Shivaji Maharaj. Instead, they should include a chapter of Shivaji killing Afzal Khan in history text books and change name of city Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar," the Sena leader said.

The Sena alleges that the chapter of Shivaji killing Afzal Khan in history text books was removed in past considering it may hurt sentiments of Muslims.

The PMC installed statues of Shivaji, Jijabai and Dadoji Konddeo by his side in Lal Mahal in 2000-01, the palace where Shivaji and Jijabai lived for few years.

The tableau portrayed Konddeo as Shivaji's guru which had led to a furore with the Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha organisation asking the civic authorities to remove the statue.

The protest also resorted to violence, as the brigade believed that Konddeo was not guru of Shivaji but only working with him.