On Wednesday (17th July), a Congress MP from Kolhapur, Shahu Maharaj visited Vishalgad and took stock of the situation days after alleged violence was created by a group led by his son and former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati. Shahu Maharaj, as per the local reports, visited the impacted areas and said that the people who have lost their homes and other properties due to the encroachment drive and the alleged violence should get immediate help from the government.
He also condemned the alleged violence in Gajapur and said that this is not what Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would have liked if he were alive today. “These people should immediately be helped. The people have lost all their hopes and are scared. Their confidence has died. It should be regained as soon as possible from the society’s point of view. We have directed the district collector to set up camps for the victims and arrange for their food. Whatever has happened is not what Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would have liked if he were present today,” Congress’ Shahu Maharaj was quoted as saying.
It is important to note that Shahu Maharaj is a Congress MP, descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and father of Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati who led the protest against the illegal encroachment on the fort.
Shahu Maharaj on 17th July visited the Masjid in Gajapur which was allegedly attacked on 14th July, the video of which had gone viral over social media platforms. He took stock of the situation and also talked to the women who had become the victims of the encroachment drive. A photo of Shahu Maharaj apologizing to the victims is being shared on social media. The photo is captioned saying that Shahu Maharaj is holding his ears to apologize to those who illegally encroached on the forts.
“Shivaji Maharaj fought against the same forces for life. The Mughals couldn’t force him to kneel but today one of his descendants is kneeling to them for a few votes… Sad… This is an insult of the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj…” the post claimed.
The man holding his ears and apologising to MusIims is the descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati.
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) July 18, 2024
Apologising for encroachments drive against illegal Dargah-Mazars.
Shivaji Maharaj fought against the same forces for life. The Mughals couldn't… pic.twitter.com/jXKA5gNwsU
However, the incident of Shahu Maharaj apologizing to the victims could not be confirmed individually.
Earlier, Congress leader Shahu Maharaj, who got the ticket over Sambhajiraje in the Lok Sabha elections, said he stood firmly against any act of violence. While condemning the violence and urging action against the culprits, Shahu Maharaj blamed it on the administration and police, claiming they had failed to take the problem “seriously”.
“Had the administration acted earlier on the direction to remove the encroachments, the violence could have been avoided,” claimed the elected official. “It is my responsibility to stand with those who face injustice,” he said.
Several of his colleagues in Congress also came out against the violence. The party said that a delegation led by Naseem Khan headed to Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla to demand harsh action in the incident. Vijay Wadettiwar, the Leader of the Opposition, said that such instances seemed “orchestrated” ahead of the Assembly elections.
What happened at Vishalgadh?
The Kolhapur district administration on the 15th of July evening began removing illegal encroachments from Vishalgadh Fort in Kolhapur, amidst heavy police presence. This is after the state CM ordered the removal of illegal encroachments from the fort, most of which are by the Muslim community.
The administration notably responded to protests organized by Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a former Rajya Sabha MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The former MP had organized a massive protest on 14th July after the state administration failed to take action against the illegal encroachments. The enraged protesters reached the foothills of the fort on Sunday, 14th July, and created a ruckus in the Gajapur area, allegedly vandalizing properties and a local Masjid. Several videos of the same have been going viral over the internet.
Earlier, similar protests were organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj on 7th July where hundreds of Hindu activists and Maratha loyalists reached the foothills of the fort and demanded action against illegal encroachment. However, it was after the massive protest and alleged violence on 14th July that the state CM responded and ordered the district administration to take down all the illegal encroachments, by both the Hindus and the Muslims.
It is believed that the population located on the fort of Vishalgadh, most of which is Muslim, has been involved in carrying out alleged illegal encroachments, construction, or expansion of the Masjid. The population there has also for years constructed illegal sheds, further expanding the businesses of chicken and cattle slaughters.
Following the alleged violence on 14th July, Sambhajiraje personally arrived at the location and declared that he would not leave until the encroachments were removed. He said there were 158 encroachments in total, just six of which were being litigated in court. “Why is no action being taken against the rest?” he inquired.
However, Sambhajiraje and his followers have time and again stated that the issue of illegal encroachments on Vishalgadh is not at all communal and that they are demanding the removal of encroachments by both, the Hindus and the Muslims living on the fort. “We want to remove all encroachments, including those by Hindus and Muslims. I know what secularism is and nobody needs to teach me that,” Sambhajiraje said.
Earlier detailed reports covered by OpIndia can be read here and here.
