With Mahararashtra reeling from the jolt of the Maratha Kranti Morchas, CM Devendra Fadnavis, in an effort to woo the Maratha community, on Monday, approved the Rs 350 crore restoration plan of Sindkhed Raja–the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj's mother, Jijabai.
The Maratha Community began a revolution of silent protests after a teenage girl was brutally raped and strangled to death in the Kopardi village of Karjat, Ahmednagar district in July this year. People continued to gather in large groups in the interiors of Maharashtra, slowly growing in numbers to revolt against the injustice. While the Kopardi case may have triggered the silent wave, it brought to the fore other prominent demands of the community that have been ignored for quite some time include: reservation for Marathas, amendment in the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA), implementation of the Dr. Swaminathan report for fair price, to farmer produce and several other appeals.
Shiv Sena leader MP Prataprao Jadhav who was a part of the meeting said that the total cost of the Sindkhed Raja refurbishment master plan would come to an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore. "We will spend Rs 150 crore in the first phase. On Monday, the government agreed to release Rs 25 crore to commence the project. Sindkhed Raja holds a special place in the hearts of the Marathas because it also is the place where Lakhuji Jadhav, father of Jijabhai was killed by the treachery of the sultans of Daulatabad. We want to set up state-of-the-art facilities here so that more people can come visit this prominent place of reverence," Jadhav said.
The meeting was also attended by Shashikant Jadhav, Shiv Sena MLA, Deepak Kesarkar, Finance Minister, Madan Yerawar, Tourist Minister and Padhurang Phundkar Guardian Minister for Buldhana district.
"We will also set up a heritage walk at Darbari Mahal. Though most of the palace is in ruins we will set up maintenance for all heritage artifacts that date back to the Chalukya period. The Hemadpanthi temple will be refurbished as well. It is an ancient temple with inscriptions that was once restored in 1509 by King Raghuji. The Chandani lake which is spread over 100 acres, will be rejuvenated along with the other maintenance projects," said MLA Shashikant Khedekar from Sindkhed Raja.
The senior minister also said that Fadnavis is hoping to tone down the anger of the Maratha community by approving the historical places of Shivaji Maharaj for restoration. Liladhar Patil, Maratha Seva Sangh leader welcomed the Chief Minister's decision. "Besides approving a plan for all these historical places, Chief Minister Fadnavis should also look into the demands that have been submitted by the Maratha Kranti Morchas across the state before things get out of control," Patil said.
On Monday, the Maratha Kranti Morcha at Satara witnessed over 25 lakh Marathas gathering together in protest. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj descendant and NCP, MP Udayanraje Bhosale and former congress Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan were also present at the protest. It is one of the biggest protests so far.
