Sainiks keen to celebrate ‘Shivpratap din’

The Shiv Sena wants to capitalise on Maratha King Shivaji’s killing of Afzal Khan, a knight of Adilshah of Bijapur, reports HT Correspondent.

The Shiv Sena wants to capitalise on Maratha King Shivaji’s killing of Afzal Khan, a knight of Adilshah of Bijapur.

HT Image

The party that suffered a setback in Mumbai during Assembly polls wants to cash in on the issue that led to riots in Sangli and helped the saffron combine win four seats due to communal polarisation.

The Sena wants to celebrate Shivpratap Din — that marks 350th anniversary of the day when Shivaji killed Afzal Khan — on Tuesday by putting up posters in the city depicting the killing. The party wants to observe the day as ‘anti-terrorism day’.

Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police (law and order) has written to municipal commissioner asking him to remove any such posters, saying they may communal tension.

“Shivaji is respected by Hindus and Muslims equally. And for a commissioner to do this on his own without any complaint is uncalled for,” said senior Sena leader Diwakar Raote. He has asked Home Minister RR Patil to ask the commissioner to withdraw his order.

Roy’s letter said, “We have received a confidential report that some organisations are going to celebrate the day as ‘anti terrorism day’ and are trying to put up posters depicting the assassination throughout the city…this could pose a law and order problem.”

Acting Municipal Commissioner R.A.Rajeev said the corporation would give permission [to put up posters] only after the police department gives a no objection certificate.

“People like Sachin [Tendulkar] and Shivaji who are know for their contribution to society don’t require your [the Sena’s] fake publicity,” said Congress leader Rajhans Singh.