Jai Maharashtra interviews Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar and Malhar Pandey regarding encroachments on forts!
Mumbai : The Islamic encroachment of the forts in Maharashtra is a well planned strategy. The Archeology Department needs to work to prevent it, said National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar and Mr. Malhar Pandey (a fan of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) in the ‘JM Special’ programme on Jai Maharashtra TV channel. A special documentary ‘Who will save Yashwantgad?’ was shown on February 13 about the crumbling ramparts of Yashwantgad and encroachments beside the fort.
Courtesy Jai Maharashtra News
The program featured interviews with local fans of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It shows the cleanliness campaign carried out at the fort by them. There is illegal construction by some hoteliers near the fort. The Department of Archaeology has been alerted; But the people said that they were being ignored and demanded that the encroachments be removed.
Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar said that
1. The State Archaeological Department lacks adequate manpower and funds. The State Archeology Department does not have its own website, nor does it have a ‘toll free’ number to communicate with the public. This is a sign that the State Archaeological Department does not want to do its job.
2. When one observes the encroachments on Yashwantgad, Vishalgarh, Sinhagad, it seems encroachment is a commonplace thing. The elected officials are also ignoring this. Officials get paid, but the forts are cleaned by the local people. The Department of Archeology needs to work on this.
If the government supports, we can shed light on the history of these forts! – Malhar Pandey
There is no doubt that the Islamic encroachment on the forts is a deliberate conspiracy. These forts sing the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. So these are ongoing efforts to destroy this by hook or crook. Fans of Shivaji Maharaj must be alert about encroachment on forts and forts. Otherwise these historical places will slip out of our hands. If the government stands firm with us, the glorious history of the forts of Maharashtra can be placed before the world. Visit the forts not as tourists, but to experience its glorious history. People need to understand the historical significance of the forts.
