The controversy over displaying Tipu Sultan’s portrait in the Malegaon Deputy Mayor’s office intensified as Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi defended Tipu Sultan as a brave freedom fighter who fought against the British. The dispute arose when Shiv Sena workers demanded the immediate removal of the portrait from Deputy Mayor Shan-e-Hind’s office. The portrait, presented to the Deputy Mayor by fellow corporators, faced objections from Shiv Sena councillors and BJP-linked groups.
Amid the escalating row, the BJP filed an FIR against Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal over remarks equating Tipu Sultan with Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Azmi defended Tipu Sultan’s historical legacy and questioned objections to his portrait, citing documented historical accounts of Tipu Sultan’s economic contributions and his fight against the British.
Azmi condemned the politicization of the issue to create communal divisions, emphasizing Tipu Sultan’s role as a brave freedom fighter. He refuted allegations of Tipu Sultan’s involvement in temple demolitions, stating that Tipu Sultan’s actions were unlike those responsible for such acts. The controversy began with protests by Shiv Sena leaders against the portrait’s installation, leading to its eventual removal from the Deputy Mayor’s office.
Meanwhile, Harshvardhan Sapkal praised Tipu Sultan as a courageous ruler who fought against British rule, sparking objections from the BJP. Azmi called for mutual brotherhood and preservation of history, urging progress and unity in the country. He emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence and warned against attempts to sow division.
