Celebrations surrounding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary turned sour in a Goan village, as the installation of his statue triggered a clash between two groups.
The day marks the 394th birth anniversary of the Maratha emperor and events are held across the state to celebrate it.
The incident, unfolding near Margao town, saw police deployed to maintain peace amidst simmering tensions.
A life-size statue of the Maratha emperor was erected in Sao Jose De Areal village on Sunday, igniting a verbal altercation between two factions.
While Superintendent of Police (South) Sunita Sawant assured the situation was under control with police intervention, the underlying dispute persisted.
“The situation is under control and police personnel have been deployed in the village,” Sawant said.
Social welfare minister Subhash Phal Desai visited the village and clarified that the statue stood on private land, with all necessary permissions obtained from the local panchayat and the deputy collector's office.
“No one must have any objection to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Some political forces are instigating locals against the installation of the statue,” he said.
He accused "political forces" of instigating locals against the installation, highlighting communal undertones.
Taking to X on Monday, local BJP leader Savio Rodrigues said, “As an Indian Christian I have the highest respect for the contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji
towards protecting our motherland. I am disappointed that some in Goa equate his sacrifices for our motherland as a point of contention to play their communal politics.”
Shivaji was a hardcore nationalist and every Indian must be inspired by him because of his immense valour and devotion to Bharat Mata, Rodrigues further said.
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