‘Demolish unauthorized structure around Afzal Khan’s tomb at Pratapgad’

Order issued by Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar during meeting with ‘Shri Shivapratap Bhoomi Mukti Andolan Sanghatana’

• The Govt. is expected to demolish such unauthorized structures on its own. Why doesn’t the Govt., which promptly demolishes Hindus’ temples treating them as unauthorized, demolish unauthorized structures of fanatics also ?
• Need should not srise for Shivaji-patrons and ‘Hindutvavadis’ to raise voice against such issues ! 

From Shri. Sachin Kaulkar, special correspondent

Mumbai : Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar, State Forest Minister issued an order for Forest Department and Satara District Police Department to demolish unauthorized structure comprising of 19 rooms built around Afzal Khan’s tomb at Pratapgad Fort in Satara District. A meeting was held in the cabin of Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar at 3.00 p.m. in Vidhan Bhavan with ‘Shri Shivapratap-bhoomi Mukti Andolan Sanghatana (SSMAS)’. The order was issued to senior officers of Forest Department. Shri. Kharge, Secretary- Forest Department, Chief ‘Vana-sanrakshak’ Patil, Regional Forest Officer Anjankar, Shri. Nitin Shinde, former MLA, leader of MNS and Convener of ‘Shri Shivapratapbhoomi Mukti Andolan’, Advocate Sou. Swati Shinde, Vice President, MNS (Women’s Wing), Shri. Narayanrao Kadam, the Founder of ‘Hindu Ekata Andolan’, Shri. Rambhau Hazare, Shri. Rohit Patil, Shri. Aditya Patwardhan, Shri. Chetan Bhosale etc., all ‘Hindutvavadis’, Shri. Omkar Kanade of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) were present on the occasion. On behalf of all Shivaji-patrons and SSMAS, Shri. Nitin Shinde congratulated Forest Minister Shri. Mungantiwar on taking such bold decision.

During discussions, Shri. Nitin Shinde said, “Mumbai High Court has issued order twice to the State Government that unauthorized structure in the area of Afzal Khan’s tomb and on the land of Forest Department should be immediately removed; even then the Government has not done anything. Earlier Government also did nothing in this connection. (Stringent action should be taken against those from State Govt. responsible for not taking any action on Court’s orders ! – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) Shri. Mungantiwar should take a note of the same and remove the unauthorized construction immediately.”

Shri. Shinde showed pictures of such structures to the Minister. Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar then said, “Unauthorized construction on Forest Department’s land consisting of 19 rooms would be demolished immediately; but we cannot remove the structures on other land which is not under Forest Department.”

The Govt. should display history related to slaying of Afzal Khan on a board at the base of Pratapgad ! – Nitin Shinde, former MLA

Shri. Nitin Shinde said while talking to reporters, “Few persons have set up a Trust in the name of Afzal Khan in last 20-25 years and constructed the unauthorized structure of a ‘durgah’ around Afzal Khan’s tomb. The same persons tried to glorify Afzal Khan; therefore, from the year 2001, the movement under SSMAS has been started and this year, the issue was raised even during Assembly Council’s session to draw Government’s attention. Even then, the earlier Government did not demolish the structure.”

“Mumbai High Court issued order to demolish 19 unauthorized rooms at Pratapgad. It was, therefore, a follow-up meeting with Forest Minister Shri. Mungantiwar. It may be mentioned here that Muslims have no objection for demolition of unauthorized structure. 14 policemen have been entrusted the duty of safeguarding the place. Two policemen out of them have died due to snake-bite. Even then, the Government is not removing police patrolling. A huge sculpture depicting the scene of slaying of Afzal Khan at the base of Pratapgad should be erected by the Government to glorify Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s bravery and the area should be named as ‘Shivapratap Bhoomi’, opening it for people to visit. Big board should be displayed on which history of the incident of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj slaying Afzal Khan should be written in Marathi, Hindi and English.”

Representation submitted to Forest Minister with various demands !

Shri. Nitin Shinde, the former MLA met BJP MLA Shri. Sudhir Gadgil from Sangli and discussed the issues. In the presence of Shri. Gadgil and on behalf of SSMAS, Shri. Nitin Shinde submitted a representation to Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar with various demands.