After BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni “purified” a spot in the historic Shaniwarwada in Pune where “namaz” had been offered by Muslim visitors, the Opposition parties and social activists have rooted for her resignation as the member as Parliament.
After a video showing some Muslim women offering namaz at the Shaniwarwada fort went viral on social media platforms on Saturday, BJP functionary and RS member on Sunday led a demonstration and her supporters cleaned the spot using gau mutra (cow urine) and also performed Shiv Vandana as part of the ritual.
“Shaniwarwada is a historic site. It is a symbol of our victory, the center from which the Maratha Empire expanded from Attock to Cuttack. If someone comes here and recites Namaz, we will not tolerate it,” Dr Kulkarni wrote on X and tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP national president and union minister JP Nadda.
“Shaniwarwada is an ASI protected historical monument. It is a symbol of Hindavi-swarajya founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We cannot allow anyone to offer namaz here. It is not a mosque,” she said. “If the Muslims are offering namaz inside a historical place like Shaniwarwada, then Hindus should also be allowed to perform “aarti” in mosques,” Kulkarni added. Built in 1732, the Shaniwarwada fort in Pune was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818. The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 in an unexplained fire. However, the remnants of the fort structure draw tourists. The fort-complex is protected and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
On Saturday, a video of some Muslim women offering namaz at the Shaniwarwada Fort went viral on social media platforms which was followed by condemnation by several Right-wing and Hindutva organisations like Sakal Hindu Samaj and Patit Pavan Sanghatana. Following her act of ‘purification’ at Shaniwarwada, MP Medha Kulkarni came in for severe flak from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVS).
“Seeing Muslim women offering namaz in Shaniwarwada, the BJP workers sprinkled cow urine on them.
Does Shaniwarwada seem like a pilgrimage site to them? Has anyone stopped you from sitting there and doing jap of Ram, Ram, Ram,” Congress senior spokesperson Sachin Sawant wondered. “Insulting someone’s worship in this manner is not even worthy of condemnation-it is a far more serious act. The Muslims of this very country prostrate on this very soil, but these hate-mongers do not like it,” state Samajwadi Party chief and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said. “At a time when farmers in Marathwada have been hit hard by floods and there’s a need to help them tide over this crisis, Kulkarni is trying to divert the attention of the people by indulging in hate mongering,” Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said.
Rooting for Kulkarni’s resignation, Londe said: “Farmer families have no money to celebrate Diwali. The state Government has stopped the Anandacha Shide welfare scheme.
The farmers are not getting any help. When Hindus celebrate Diwali, they distribute joy among their brethren but the MP is distributing hate.
A people’s representative is expected to fight for the people and not against their interest”. “It seems whatever Kulkarni did was to impress her bosses in Delhi. If she wants to indulge in anti-people activities, then she should resign and work for Sakal Hindu Samaj. An MP represents all sections of the party in Parliament.
