Shivaji was a great patriot and protected people from all castes and creeds: Lad

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great patriot and fought for the protection of people from all castes and creeds. Confining him to the Maratha community or to portray him as an anti-Muslim king amounts to reducing his stature and doing him great injustice, Minister Santosh Lad said in Dharwad on Sunday.

He was speaking after launching the website of the Maratha Vidyaprasarak Mandal and performing bhumi puja for the new administrative office building and a pre-university science college building.

Mr. Lad said that Shivaji Maharaj was never anti-Muslim. He opposed only those who did not abide by the principles of their religion, he said.

He had a lot of Muslim advisors, confidants and trusted aides. Unfortunately, some vested interests are trying to portray him as an anti-Muslim king.

“A Muslim soldier named Rustum-e-Jamal from Shivaji’s army assisted him. He gave Shivaji the tiger claws for his protection. The king used these to eliminate Afzal Khan. Those tiger claws are still preserved in the London Museum,’‘ the Minister said.

Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J., chairman of the Dr Da Ra Bendre National Memorial Trust Sarjoo Katkar, Mayor Jyoti Patil, Deputy Mayor Santosh Chavan were, among others, present.

Maratha Vidyaprasarak Mandal president M.N. More presided over the function.