Mumbai, April 25: A significant controversy has arisen following remarks made by Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba. He claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was exhausted from continuous battles and sought the guidance of Samarth Ramdas Swami. According to Shastri, Shivaji removed his crown and requested the saint to take over the governance of the state.
Shastri further sparked debate by advising Hindus to have four children, suggesting that one should be dedicated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The sensitivity of this controversy is heightened as these comments were made during an event in Nagpur, attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Opposition leaders have sharply criticized both Shastri and the ruling Mahayuti government for their silence during this speech. Congress leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, condemned the statement, labeling it a “distortion of history.”
They argued that Shivaji Maharaj never grew “tired” of fighting for Swarajya and dismissed the notion of handing over the state to Ramdas Swami as historically baseless. The Congress party has demanded Shastri’s arrest for disrespecting this great figure of the state.
Wadettiwar expressed disappointment that such statements were made in the presence of the Chief Minister and Union Minister at a state event. He questioned their silence and asked whether the Bharatiya Janata Party agrees with the claim that Shivaji Maharaj relinquished his crown to someone else.
He further stated that this is a calculated attempt to diminish the stature of their revered leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which will not be tolerated.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant criticized Bageshwar Baba’s remarks as “historically incorrect,” asserting that they misrepresent facts.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) spokesperson Sanjay Raut noted that after a statue fell due to corruption in Malvan, Sindhudurg district, now outsiders are being brought in to insult their history.
He emphasized that Shivaji Maharaj was a sovereign ruler who established Swarajya, and claiming he handed over his state to another is a historical sin. Raut accused the Mahayuti government of providing a platform for such insults.
Rohit Pawar, a legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), lamented that while Bageshwar Baba allegedly insulted Shivaji Maharaj, the state’s rulers were present on stage. He called for a ban on Bageshwar Baba in Maharashtra, warning that failure to act would have consequences for both him and the government.
He added that he doubts the government will take action, urging the Shiv-loving public to decide whether to tolerate this or teach a lesson.
Another NCP legislator, Jitendra Awhad, demanded an unconditional apology from Shastri, stating that historical records from the 17th century prove that discussions between Shivaji Maharaj and Ramdas Swami were limited and did not involve any throne transfer.
Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti coalition is currently in “damage control” mode, attempting to distance the administration from Shastri’s remarks while defending the religious event.
In response to the controversy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that such claims lack historical basis. He noted that while many folk tales and stories exist, there is no evidence in written history to support such an event.
Fadnavis emphasized the importance of relying on authentic historical records related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, even as he acknowledged that people express their devotion in various ways. He clarified that Bageshwar Baba’s primary aim was to highlight the RSS as an organization that has kept Hindu culture and eternal traditions alive and vibrant.
He concluded by stating that the message was for every household to have at least one son who should be part of the RSS.
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