Unauthorised tombs exist now at Kolaba Fort after ‘Raigad fort’ : HJS

Archaeological Department promises action on Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s demand

Some Muslim fanatics built an unauthorised place of worship in Raigad Fort, the erstwhile capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindavi Swarajya. This was removed after alert Hindus raised their voice; however, it has been found that a similar unauthorised construction has also taken place in Kolaba Fort, the erstwhile centre of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Naval fleet. An unofficial shrine (Mazar) has come up in this Fort and has been painted white.

‘कुलाबा किल्ल्या’वर उभारलेली अनधिकृत मजार हे भूमी हडपण्याचे षडयंत्र असून हे बांधकाम तात्काळ हटवावे आणि संबधितांवर तत्काळ गुन्हे दाखल करावेत…

हिंदू जनजागृती समिती, राजे प्रतिष्ठान दुर्गसंवर्धन विभाग, गडप्रेमी ,शिवप्रेमी संघटनांची @ASIGoI आणि @CMOMaharashtra यांच्याकडे मागणी !! pic.twitter.com/lLGmwkm4Nf

— Sunil Ghanwat (@SG_HJS) January 11, 2022

Such small unauthorised mazars are later converted into dargahs and then into mosques. In this way, Muslims usurp land by constructing unauthorised structures. Representatives of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Raje Pratishthan Durg Sanvardhan Vibhag met the officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Mumbai Division and the District Collectors of Raigad Districts and demanded immediate removal of these unauthorised constructions; they sought immediate action against the culprits. It was learnt that Mrs Falguni Katkar, Assistant Archaeologist, ASI visited the Kolaba Fort and assured that the ASI will take appropriate action against the culprits.

Mr Balwant Pathak (Mumbai District Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti), Mr Roshan Jangam-Belsekar (Mumbai President of Raje Pratishthan Durg Sanvardhan Vibhag) and Mr Rahul Askat submitted a representation to the ASI; Mrs Vishakha Athavale, Mr Girish Joshi and Mr Uday Teli submitted similar representations to Ms Sneha Ubale (Deputy Collector of Raigad).

Regarding the encroachment in Kolaba Fort, Mr Raghuji Raje Angre (A descendent of Sarakhel Kanhoji Angre, Naval Chief of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) had lodged a similar complaint some days ago. In this context, HJS has demanded that ASI take action against officials who have shown negligence towards this complaint.

कुलाबा किल्ल्यावर अनधिकृत मजार
कोणी बांधली ?
पुरातत्व खाते व प्रशासन नेमके काय करते ?
कुलाबा किल्ल्यातील मजार तात्काळ हटवण्यात यावी तसेच ती बांधणाऱ्या धर्मांधांवर व संबंधित अधिकाऱ्यावर गुन्हे दाखल करावेत व सर्व गड-किल्ले इस्लामी अतिक्रमणमुक्त करावेत!@AmitV_Deshmukh@ASIGoI @PTI pic.twitter.com/Ap4RC51sif

— Sunil Ghanwat (@SG_HJS) January 11, 2022

HJS has demanded that a report be submitted to the Government on whether such encroachments exist in other forts in the State and that the process of removing such encroachments be started immediately. HJS has also warned that if the ASI and administration do not remove such encroachments, it will start an agitation in the State.

Hundreds of forts are treasures of Hindavi Swarajya. Yet, religious fanatics have planned to Islamise the forts by constructing unauthorised structures, mazars and places of worship in many of these forts. Although Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj faced and ended the rule of 5 Islamic rulers in the State, Islamic aggression has not stopped. HJS has said that all forts in the State be freed from Islamic aggression.