Devendra Fadnavis blames ‘Chhaava’ movie for people's anger against Aurangzeb

Mumbai: As the Nagpur city slowly limps back to normalcy after violent clashes in the backdrop of the growing demand to raze the tomb of Aurangzeb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the incident was “pre-mediated and well-planned attack” even as he claimed that the recently-released film Chhaava had ignited people’s anger against  the Mughal emperor. 

“The mob targeted specific houses and establishments. It (the attack) appears to be a pre-meditated conspiracy…police recovered a tempo full of stones and weapons. In the morning, after skirmishes, the situation was under control, but by evening, things escalated. This shows the violence was a well-planned attack,” Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister, told the Legislative Assembly. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, while speaking in the Legislative Council, hit out at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-INDIA amid attacks on the ruling MahaYuti-NDA dispensation. 

“I do not want to blame or criticise any movie, but due to Chhaava, people’s sentiments have been and anger is against Aurangzeb. Despite this, we must maintain law and order in Maharashtra,” said Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur. 

The focal point of the clashes was the Mahal, considered the historic heart of Nagpur.

The headquarters of RSS, the ideological fountainhead of BJP, which rules the Centre and Maharashtra, is located in the Mahal area - and hence strict checking has been put in place at the roads leading there. 

The incident of Monday evening, during the holy month of Ramzan, coincided with the birth anniversary of legendary Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

A total of five FIRs have been lodged in connection with the attacks. 

As many as 33 police personnel including three Deputy Commissioners of Police were injured in the violence. “One DCP was attacked with an axe and was injured. One of the five civilians injured in the violence is in ICU. There was a pre-planned pattern behind the riots,” he added.

“Curfew has been imposed in the jurisdiction of 11 police stations and a number of entry points to the city have been sealed,” he said. 

Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who is also the Nagpur district’s Guardian Minister, visited Orange City and reviewed the arrangements. Nagpur City Police Commissioner Dr Ravindra Kumar Singhal, under section 163 (1) (2) (3) of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), issued ‘sancharbandi’ (curfew) order for some of the affected areas till the situation normalises. 

The areas include police station areas of Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Panchpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar.

During the combing operations, the Nagpur police have detained over 80 persons. Besides, hundreds of social media accounts are being checked.

“Police have said that many people came from outside. Petrol bombs were also hurled. It is unfortunate that the Police were also attacked. Strict action will be taken in this incident. I appeal to all to maintain peace,” Shinde said. 

"Who was Aurangzeb? Was he a saint?… One should read the history of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and watch Chhaava…They tortured  Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days. Aurangzeb was a traitor,” he said. 

State’s Fisheries and Port Minister Nitesh Rane came under the fire of the MVA for alleged repeated provocative statements. 

Asked about this, Rane said that he was not going to respond as no statement had been made against him in the House. “The session is on…no statement has been made either in the Assembly for Council,” he said. 

What is ‘Chhaava’ about?

Chhaava in Marathi means Lion’s cub and the film is based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of legendary Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film is based on ‘Chhaava’, a book written by late novelist Shivaji Sawant.  The Hindi historical biopic action film ‘Chhaava’ is directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, has stars Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji Maharaj, Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai and Akshaye Khanna as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.