Book Controversy: MLA's Threat Over Shivaji Biography Sparks Outrage
A publisher accuses MLA Sanjay Gaikwad of issuing death threats and verbal abuse over a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The controversy arose from a viral audio clip, leading to calls for an investigation and police protection. The book depicts Shivaji as a secular leader rather than solely a Hindu ruler.
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On Thursday, a publisher accused Sanjay Gaikwad, an MLA from Maharashtra's Shiv Sena, of issuing death threats and using abusive language over a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The allegations stemmed from an audio clip that went viral, where Gaikwad was purportedly heard making threats to Kolhapur-based publisher Prashant Ambi.
Gaikwad admitted the voice in the clip was his but claimed the recording had been edited. The controversial book, "Shivaji Kon Hota" by Govind Pansare, presents Shivaji Maharaj as a secular leader. First published 38 years ago, it has sold millions of copies and lacks honorifics, which Gaikwad opposed.
The incident led to a police complaint and calls for an investigation. The Congress party criticized Gaikwad's actions as "open hooliganism," urging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene. Critics accused Gaikwad, previously involved in controversies, of tarnishing Maharashtra's cultural values.
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