Resolve to file complaint, demands legal action for distortion of history
People participating in the dharna called by the Akhil Gomantak Kshatriya Maratha Samaj at the Cuncolim Chieftains memorial to protest against Uday Bhembre’s statements on Shivaji.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Akhil Gomantak Kshatriya Maratha Samaj has on Tuesday strongly condemned Uday Bhembre’s remarks on Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji and has resolved to file a case against the Konkani writer.
At a dharna held at the Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial on Tuesday evening, the Gomantak Kshatriya Maratha Samaj has warned that it will not tolerate such acts anymore, saying the Samaj had created history and do not need people like Bhembre to teach its history.
“We condemn the act of Uday Bhembre who made derogatory remarks on our leader whom we believe as our aradhya daivat (God). What Uday Bhembre said in his video is totally unacceptable. His remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that he looted Goa and killed innocent priests and took away women and children are unacceptable. Our king who treated Kalyan Subhedar’s daughter-in-law as his mother and gave respect and punishment to his soldiers for indecent act of his soldiers cannot touch women and he punished those three priests who were involved in forcible conversion,” a resolution adopted at the meeting stated.
The meeting stated that Bhembre’s claim that Chhatrapati Shivaji was defeated by Portuguese and Shivaji was a friend of the Portuguese is also fabricated and distorted. This false and fabricated story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was proved with facts by many historians, another resolution stated.
The meeting further resolved to demand with the government to enact a strong law to make it a cognisable offence if anyone defames or tries to fabricate history for his own benefit.
The meeting also condemned the act of some individuals who said that Uday Bhembre is equally respected like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “Nobody has the right to compare Chhatrapati with Uday Bhembre. It’s again hurting our sentiments. If any one believes Uday as their God, they can worship him or build his temple but he cannot be like Chhatrapati,” the resolution added.
Terming Uday Bhembre a controversy creator, the meeting reminded that this is not the first time he has stirred a row. “We are of the opinion that Uday is allergic to Maratha history. He called Cuncolim revolt of 1583 as Kestanv (stray fight). Kestanv can be between wife and husband, Kestanv can be between neighbours and brothers and family members. In the First War of Independence in 1583, our ancestors fought a long war against Portuguese. We lost 15 Chieftains and many brave warriors. Many Portuguese soldiers and priest were killed in war. There was bloodshed, but Bhembre again and again calls it a kestanv, thus instigating the Marathas,” the resolution said, while issuing a stern warning that such nonsense will not be tolerated anymore.
In another resolution, the Samaj congratulated Archaeologist Shravani Shetye, historian and researcher Madge, Historian Prajwal Sakhardande, and all those who wrote articles and participated in debates and proved with facts the lies of Uday Bhembre and his fabricated fairy tale stories.
Samaj president Suhas Desai said that Shivaji Maharaj had taken all people together, irrespective of caste and creed, while condemning Bhembre’s statement there was no connection between Goa and Shivaji.
