Mumbai, Feb 17 (NationPress) In the midst of a heated debate surrounding the comparison of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan, the president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Harshwardhan Sapkal, publicly apologized on Tuesday to the devotees of Shivaji for the unintended offense caused by his remarks. He emphasized that it was never his goal to hurt anyone's sentiments.

Sapkal criticized the BJP for allegedly misrepresenting his statements, indicating that their actions have led to the distress of Shivaji's followers.

His apology came especially after reactions from the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who condemned his comments and indicated that such statements were unacceptable in the state. He stated, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a venerated figure in Maharashtra and across India, celebrated for his courage, sense of justice, and the foundation of the Maratha Empire. On the other hand, Tipu Sultan's legacy is often contested, with some viewing him as a contentious figure due to his treatment of Hindus and his collaborations with the French.”

Moreover, supporters of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and several historians expressed their disapproval of Sapkal’s attempt to draw parallels between the two historical figures.

In a post on X, Sapkal reiterated, “I affirm once again, with clarity and conviction, that the bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is unmatched. He stands as my ideal, my inspiration, and my pride. The notion of comparing him to anyone else is unfounded. I had mentioned that Tipu Sultan regarded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as his role model and drew motivation from him in his struggle against the British. His contributions are so significant that his portrait is included in India's Constitution.”

“The essence of my statement was to advocate for the promotion of mutual respect and unity in society, emphasizing that discussions regarding historical figures should be well-informed and should not lead to societal discord—we must reject polarization based on caste, religion, or community. This was the viewpoint I expressed,” he added.

Sapkal further clarified that his brief 70-second statement intended to convey that displaying images of various prominent personalities in government offices should not lead to societal tensions but should instead promote a message of unity.

“Regrettably, a single word from that statement was deliberately misconstrued. Misinformation spread through social media has distorted my words, giving a false impression that I compared Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and this smear campaign has been systematically propagated by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates. We witnessed attempts in Pune to incite religious tensions based on this misrepresentation,” he remarked.

Sapkal urged Congress party workers and the public to remain vigilant against smear tactics and to foster social harmony as Shivaji Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) approaches in just two days.

“With Shivaji Jayanti just around the corner—let us all put aside misunderstandings and resist falling victim to smear campaigns. Let us commit ourselves to shaping Maharashtra through respect, unity, and harmony by following the path of Swarajya, tolerance, and public welfare that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has shown us. We must also continue to counter the BJP's malicious propaganda—bringing their misconduct, the trade deal, and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal to light,” concluded Sapkal.