BJP workers carry out purification ritual at Pune fort after namaz video goes viral

Mumbai: BJP workers protested at Pune’s historic Shaniwar Wada fort after a video showed members of the Muslim community offering namaz inside the fort, India Today reported.

The protesters led by Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni performed a “purification ritual” by sprinkling cow urine and dung where prayers were reportedly taken place.

Sharing the video of the alleged prayer incident on Sunday, Kulkarni called for a protest at the historic fort.

Built in 1732, the fort was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818.

‘This is a matter of concern and anger for every Punekar. What exactly is the Pune administration doing? Where is the respect for our heritage sites disappearing? Come, let us all unite and honour our culture,’ she said in the post.

Kulkarni told reporters that after receiving the video the previous day she reached out to the archaeological department of Maharashtra, ensuring that individuals were removed from there.

‘This makes it clear that the incident happened within the premises. We have often seen that places where namaz is offered later turn into religious sites. To prevent such encroachment, we protested,’ she said.

Asserting that Shaniwar Wada represents the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Swarajya, she said no single religion's rituals should be permitted there.

The BJP MP took to X posting: ‘Shaniwar Wada is a historic site. It is a symbol of our victory, the centre from which the Maratha Empire expanded from Attock to Cuttack. If someone comes here to perform namaz, we will not tolerate it.’

Meanwhile, some protesters attempted to target Hazrat Khwaja Sayyed Dargah in the neighbourhood demanding its removal, sparking tension in the area.

Swiftly intervening, police had to use force to restore order after protesters clashed with officers.

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) accused Kulkarni of attempting to communalise the issue, with NCP spokesperson Rupali Patil Thombare saying that ‘Medha Kulkarni has tried to create religious discord in Pune’.

Urging authorities file a case against her, Rupali Patil Thombare said that ‘Shaniwar Wada belongs to all Punekars, not to any one group or religion’.

Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane said, ‘Shaniwar Wada has a history. It is a symbol of our valour and holds a special place in the hearts of the Hindu community. If people want to offer namaz there, would you be okay with Hindus going to Haji Ali and chanting the Hanuman Chalisa? Wouldn’t that hurt sentiments? Prayers should be offered only at designated places. If Hindu workers raised their voice, it was justified.’

Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Asim Azmi said that the purification ritual would not be tolerated adding ‘Muslims in India have sacrificed their lives for the nation’.

‘Those who advocated for the British are sitting in power right now and will treat Muslims like this. They will get a befitting reply for this,’ he warned.