Mumbai: Security has been increased in parts of Maharashtra amid simmering trouble over the state government’s decision to honour a historian with the state’s top civilian award.
Pune-based historian Babasaheb Purandare will receive the “Maharashtra Bhushan” at the governor’s house Raj Bhavan in Mumbai today. He is travelling from Pune to Mumbai under heavy protection for the event.
Security has been tightened around the Raj Bhawan and other parts of Mumbai. There have been incidents of violence in areas dominated by hardline Maratha groups, who have opposed the award for Mr Purandare.
The Maratha hardliners believe Mr Purandare helped American writer James Laine with his controversial book in which 17th century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji’s parentage has been questioned.
A police case was registered against James Laine after massive outrage over the contents of the book, NDTV reported.
The decision to honour Babasaheb Purandare has split the powerful Maratha and Brahmin lobbies in the state and exposed caste fault-lines in Maharashtra politics.
Jnanpith Award winner Bhalchandra Nemade and the daughter of murdered anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar have opposed the award to the writer and have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to withdraw it.
Mr Purandare’s critics claim his writings have distorted history. Among them is the “Sambhaji brigade” which is considered to be a hardline faction of the Maratha community.
Political parties like the Congress and the NCP are also opposed to Mr Purandare getting the award.
On the other hand, the ruling BJP, its ally Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena support Babasaheb Purandare. Raj Thackeray has threatened to create ‘tandav’ (unrest) if the writer is touched.