Days before the celebrations of Shiv Jayanti, a major political controversy erupted in Maharashtra after state Congress president Sakpal compared Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The remark triggered sharp reactions across the state, with the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemning the statement and escalating the issue politically. As criticism intensified, Sakpal eventually issued a public apology to contain the backlash. The controversy soon reached the Assembly during the discussion on the Governor’s address, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered a forceful rebuttal, accusing critics of distorting historical facts and misrepresenting India’s past for political convenience.
Responding in the Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that India’s history had been selectively presented in school textbooks for years. He claimed that earlier academic books devoted 17 pages to the Mughals while limiting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to just a brief paragraph. Students, he said, were primarily taught that Tipu Sultan fought against the British, but were not encouraged to examine whether he fought for the nation or merely to protect his own kingdom. He further alleged that accounts of large-scale killings during Tipu’s rule were not adequately highlighted in mainstream narratives.
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Fadnavis added that certain historical details, including claims about the deaths of thousands of Hindus and members of the Nair community during Tipu Sultan’s campaigns, were not sufficiently discussed in earlier curricula and are only gradually coming to light. He pointed out that recent revisions in NCERT textbooks now dedicate around 20 pages to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire. According to him, if such balanced historical representation had been taught earlier, controversial perceptions about figures like Aurangzeb would not have emerged among sections of society.
Clarifying his position, Fadnavis stated that he has no objection to discussions about whether Tipu Sultan was good or bad, saying such debates will continue. However, he firmly opposed any attempt to equate Tipu Sultan’s stature with that of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He emphasized that while many Muslims in the country are patriotic and deserve respect, those who glorify invaders would not be tolerated. He concluded by reiterating that drawing parallels between Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan, or demanding identical praise for both, would face strong opposition from his party.