Chaitra Shuddha Dashami
Barrister Abdul Rehman Antulay, the 81 years old minister for Minorities Protection of Rights said in an election meeting at Mahad, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a humanitarian. He had respect for all religions. It is wrong to say that he cared only for Hindu Dharma. Shiv Sena has committed a blunder and caused great harm.” Antulay is contesting election from Raigad Constituency on a Congress ticket. Antulay is a Muslim by birth but he tries to show that he is more of a Hindu than a Muslim, in his public life. During his regime as the chief minister of Maharashtra, the Government had issued an order that the media and people should refer to him as A. R. Antulay rather than Abdul Rehman Antulay and the Government very keenly monitored the same. Antulay preferred to be called as A R than Abdul Rehman like Aba Patil likes him to be referred as R. R. Only they can tell what they want to hide.
Antulay always starts his election campaign by breaking a coconut before Ganapati in Shrivardhan. It is said that the ‘Bhavani’ sword of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is at London Museum. Antulay had tried to bring back the same to India at Government level. He is unhappy that Shiv Sena has slighted the greatness of Shivaji Maharaj. His feeling unhappy about the matter indicates that he is a sensitive person and it is very surprising that any politician can be sensitive towards matters related to Hindus in this country.
There are limitations to the old and new leadership of Shiv Sena. Therefore, if they are wrong in this matter, improvement is possible; but a devotee of Shivaji like Antulay need not wait. There are some persons with extremists mentality trying to eulogise Afzal Khan as a ‘sufi saint’ and organize ‘urus/ fair’ in his memory on Pratapgad. Antulay should stop them. Afzal Khan had come to kill Shivaji Maharaj; but Maharaj eliminated him by being extra-cautious. Muslims should celebrate this day as a festival as it was a victory of humanity. Muslims can not tolerate slogans like ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’. Antulay should teach them to be loyal to this country. Antulay can also use his clout and ask the Central Government to declare holiday on birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. When Muslims accept that Shivaji was humanitarian, even Shiv Sena will follow the suit; Antulay need not worry.
