Statue politics reaches Pune; Maratha and Brahmin outfits lock horns over Dadoji Konddev statue issue again

While the national politics is boiling over the demolition of statues, the statue politics raised its ugly head again in the city of Pune which is no stranger to incidents of forceful removal of statues. Nearly eight years of removal of the statue of Dadoji Konddev from historic Lal Mahal, the Brahmin outfit and Maratha outfit stood against each other when Brahmin organisation tried to install Dadoji's painting in the premises of Pune Municipal Corporation. 

Members of Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh reached PMC building with a painting of Dadoji Konddev to mark his death anniversary. Initially, they placed the painting outside the building and offer tribute to him. However, later the members took the painting inside the premises and tried to install the painting in the garden of the municipal building. While the Brahmin outfit was paying tribute to Dadoji at PMC building, some members of Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha outfit which oppose Dadji Konddev reached PMC building and entered into a heated argument with members of Brahman Mahasangh after which the Brahmin outfit members removed the painting of Dadoji. 

Speaking about the issue, Anand Dave, district president of Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh said, "We have been demanding PMC to install Dadoji Konddev's statue of painting at a public place in Pune but the civic body has not taken any decision. Today, we placed the painting of Dadoji at PMC's building to attract its attention to our demand. If by next year, the civic administration does not install his statue or painting, we will protest more aggressively."

The statue of Dadoji Konddev has remained bone of contention in Pune for more than a decade. While Dadoji in some historical references has been presented as a Brahmin tutor and mentor of Shivaji Maharaj, some Maratha outfits have been opposing this claim. 

In the year 2010, the controversy took a violent turn when Dadoji's statue was removed from the sculpture where he was shown with young Shivaji and his mother Jijabai. Following the removal of Dadoji's statue, Pune city had witnessed violent protest. 

Now even after eight years of the incident, Maratha outfit Sambhaji brigade is firm on its stand as it claims that they will not allow Dadoji's statue. "It is a deliberate attempt by Brahmin outfits to create tension by taking up Dadoji Konddev issue again. We will not allow them to play politics on this issue. We will keep opposing them whenever they will try to install Dadoji's statue," Santosh Shinde, district president of Sambhaji Brigade told DNA.