Fresh row as Maharashtra minister compares CM Shinde with Chhatrapati Shivaji

A fresh row erupted in Maharashtra politics after a Bharatiya Janata Party minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha compared Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs escape from Agra Fort in 1666 from Mughal clutches with the 2022 political rebellion against the party Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde who later became the Chief MinisterAt a commemoration function atop the historic Pratapgad Fort on Wednesday afternoon Lodha a prominent realtor made the comparison which drew strong reactions from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliesChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj went out of Agra so is Shinde As Aurangzeb had barred the Maharaj someone also had stopped Shinde Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came out for Swarajya Shinde did it for Maharashtra claimed LodhaThe BJP ministers comments left CM Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis aghast and the large audience virtually speechless while the Opposition slammed him with one of the allies launching demonstrationsAlso Read ED questions actor Vijay Deverakonda over funding of LigerNationalist Congress Party NCPs Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar attacked Lodha demanding control over people who make such statements even in the presence of the CMThese people who keep making such statements must be controlled After one stumbles the other becomes cautious But it seems there is competition among them Can Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ever be compared like this fumed PawarShiv Sena UBT leader and exMinister Aditya Thackeray condemned the comparison of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with those whom Maharashtra considers as gaddaar traitorsThe people of the state consider them a khokha government this is not accidental but planned by the current regime and the BJP to show Maharashtra in a bad light said ThackerayHe compared Lodhas utterances with that of the Governor terming it as an insult to the Chhatrapati and to MaharashtraTaking a swipe at the developer Lodha Thackeray added that these people dont understand the reality of the state but only realty through an agendaCongress Legislature Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat said that this has become a trend with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj being insulted by the Governor the BJP spokesperson and now a ministerThe Chhatrapati is the pride of the state We strongly condemn the ministers statement He must apologise for it or the people of the state will never forget it demanded ThoratOn the other hand Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena Minister Uday Samant attempted to downplay his ministerial colleagues statement saying Lodha was merely citing an example which should not be misinterpretedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever