7 months ago
2
A lawsuit has been registered against 3 unidentified women aft a video showing them offering namaz connected the premises of Pune's historical Shaniwar wada went viral connected societal media, sparking protests by BJP MP Medha Kulkarni and members of different organisations.
According to the Pune City Police, the FIR has been filed nether provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Rules, 1959, for allegedly violating restrictions applicable to protected monuments.
The incidental reportedly took spot astir 1.45 p.m. connected Saturday (October 18, 2025), pursuing which an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) serviceman lodged a ceremonial ailment to Pune City Police. The video led to protestation demonstrations connected Sunday (October 19, 2025) by BJP MP Medha Kulkarni and different members of a city-based right-wing outfit. They besides performed purification rituals astatine spot wherever namaz was offered, constabulary person summation information deployment astir Shaniwar wada.
"We person invoked the applicable Section of the AMASR Rules, which provides for penalties related to prohibited activities wrong protected monuments," a constabulary serviceman said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane, commenting connected a viral video allegedly showing women offering namaz astatine Shaniwar wada and the BJP performing "purification" there, stated that Shaniwar wada is simply a awesome of Hindu valour and adjacent to the community's heart. He questioned if Muslims would judge Hindus chanting Hanuman Chalisa astatine Haji Ali, emphasising that prayers should beryllium offered astatine designated places.
Mr. Rane supported Hindu workers raising their dependable connected the issue. "Shaniwar wada has a history. It is the awesome of our valour. It is precise adjacent to the Hindu community's heart. If you privation to connection namaz there, volition you beryllium good with Hindus going to Haji Ali and chanting Hanuman Chalisa? Will your sentiments not beryllium hurt?. One should connection prayers lone astatine the designated places. If Hindu workers raised their voice, past it is correct," Mr. Rane told ANI.
Criticising the BJP, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant connected Monday (October 20, 2025) said the BJP ‘s enactment of sprinkling cattle urine astatine the iconic Shaniwar wada successful Pune arsenic portion of a protestation against Muslim women offering namaz determination makes 1 privation to slap his oregon her forehead successful disbelief.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Mr. Sawant said Shaniwar wada adjacent housed Mastani. “It was the Peshwa sardars themselves who removed the Chhatrapati’s emblem and hoisted the Union Jack. If those women invoke the sanction of the Almighty astatine specified a place, it starts hurting your stomachs. Has anyone stopped you from sitting determination and meditate,” Mr. Sawant asked successful the post.
Mr. Sawant said the Shaniwar wada hosts Peshwa-era dargahs. The Peshwas had nary contented with it, helium pointed out. Referring to the brutal assassination of young Peshwa Narayanrao astatine the site, Mr. Sawant said radical from Pune inactive accidental they tin perceive cries of “Uncle, prevention me” coming from the Shaniwar wada.
“So, invoking the Almighty’s sanction is good. Why don’t you chant ‘Ram Ram’ yourselves?” Mr. Sawant asked.“ So overmuch has happened successful that Shaniwar wada that, by your logic, BJP folks, the full Wada should really beryllium washed with cattle urine. That way, the nationalist volition besides recognize conscionable however regressive your mindset is,” the Congress person added.
