Political Clash Between BJP-Congress In Pune Leaves 9 Injured Amid Tipu Sultan Controversy

Pune: Yesterday in Pune, the issue of Tipu Sultan got so bad that stones started being thrown on the road. BJP and Congress workers faced each other outside the Congress Bhawan. Stones, bottles, and sticks from both sides. At least 9 people were injured—three congressmen, two BJP members, two policemen and two journalists were also injured. The police had to intervene and lathi charge; otherwise, a bigger ruckus would have happened.

How did it start? 

It all started with a statement by Harshvardhan Sapkal. He is the president of Maharashtra Congress, and while talking about the bravery of Shivaji Maharaj, he took the name of Tipu Sultan and said that he too had fought against the British. BJP immediately called it an insult to Shivaji Maharaj. He said, “Comparing Tipu with Shivaji? This is an attack on Hindu sentiments!” CM Fadnavis also said that such statement will not be tolerated. 

What did BJP do after this? 

BJP staged a dharna outside Congress office in Pune and burnt an effigy in Mumbai also. Then when BJP people reached Congress Bhawan, Congress people also came out. First sloganeering, then abuses, and suddenly stone pelting begins. Police are saying that stones were thrown from both sides, there was no one-sidedness. Among the injured were journalists who had just come to cover the news.

Congress's cry is that BJP people came to attack, threw stones at our office and did not even spare women. BJP is saying that Sapkal's statement is everything, he is hurting the sentiments of Hindus. Both have filed FIR against each other.

Have such incidents happened before?

Earlier too, Shiv Sena people were enraged when Tipu's photo was posted in Malegaon, but now this Pune issue has become bigger. Police have registered a case against many workers of both parties. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area, so that no clash occurs again today.

A leader's statement and bloodshed on the streets. Such dramas have now become a daily routine in Maharashtra, but what about those who have been injured? Seeing all this in the name of politics, one feels like leaving everyone aside and doing useful work.