Activists, elders to meet officials for Sambhaji statue inauguration: MLA Abhay Patil

Belagavi: Abhay Patil informed the elders from Angol suburb and activists of about 35 yuvak mandals that they will meet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and Police Commissioner Lada Martin Marbaninag on Saturday and demand the unveiling of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue on January 5, as scheduled.

Based on the meeting, elders will take a decision on next course of action.

Patil told reporters on Friday that Belagavi City Corporation in its council meeting had decided to unveil the statue of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as all works have been completed.

However, objections have also been raised, but their protests all went in vain as the civic body proceeded with the inauguration date. However, a small section has still objected the statue unveiling.

We have invited a descendant of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Guruvarya Sambhaji Bhide for the unveiling programme.

BCC officials under directions from government have stopped cleaning the statue premises to make it appear like the work was incomplete. Posters with pictures of national heroes have been removed and Congress government has given message that its anti-Hindu, Patil said.

Recently Congress celebrated 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the Congress session held here in 1924. Posters and banners were installed without permission across the city.

We too did not object as it was an historic event for them, but posters of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, their descendants and other national heroes have been removed. Deputy commissioner said he has no knowledge about such incidences, Patil questioned.

Patil said, elders from Angol and yuvak mandal office bearers will meet the Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner to allow them to unveil the statue as planned. If permission is not given, we shall proceed as per the directions of the elders.

There has been demand by Hindu activists across the state for organising ‘Belagavi Chalo’ movement against the anti-Hindu policies of state government.