Mumbai, February 17: In light of the ongoing controversy comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan, Harshvardhan Sapkal, the President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, expressed regret on Tuesday. He apologized to Shivaji’s supporters for the misuse of his words.
Sapkal clarified that he never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments. He condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for distorting his statements, which he claimed led to the hurt feelings of Shivaji devotees.
His decision to apologize came after the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized his remarks, warning that such statements would not be tolerated in the state.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a revered figure in Maharashtra and across India, known for his bravery, justice, and the establishment of the Maratha Empire. In contrast, Tipu Sultan’s legacy is often debated; some view him as controversial due to his treatment of Hindus and his alliance with the French,” Sapkal noted.
Supporters of Shivaji Maharaj and some experts expressed concern over Sapkal’s comparison of the two historical figures.
In a post on the social media platform X, he reiterated, “I want to clearly and firmly state that the valor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is unparalleled. He is my ideal, my inspiration, and my pride. There is no question of comparing him to anyone else. I mentioned that Tipu Sultan regarded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as his ideal and drew inspiration from him to fight against the British. His contributions are recognized in the Indian Constitution.”
He further emphasized, “The essence of my statement was that there should be no tension in society regarding their images. Everyone should maintain mutual respect and brotherhood. While there may be differences in historical perspectives, discussions should be measured and thoughtful, avoiding polarization based on caste, religion, or community. This was my viewpoint.”
Sapkal added that the crux of his 70-second statement was that displaying images of various great personalities together in government offices should promote unity rather than create tension.
“Unfortunately, a word from that statement was deliberately taken out of context. Misinformation campaigns on social media have attributed words to me that I never said, leading to the false impression that I compared Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This misinformation has been systematically spread by the BJP and its allies. We have seen attempts to incite religious tensions and riots in the state based on this,” he stated.
Sapkal urged Congress party workers and the public not to believe in misinformation campaigns and to maintain social harmony, especially with Shivaji Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) just two days away.
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