Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Shiv Jayanti, accusing him of disrespecting the Maratha warrior by choosing inappropriate words. The dispute arose after Gandhi referred to his tribute as shraddhanjali (condolence tribute) instead of adaranjali (respectful tribute), a term traditionally used to honor great leaders.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde expressed his anger, stating that Gandhi’s words were not just an insult to Shivaji Maharaj but also to the people of Maharashtra who revere him. He also reminded that this was not the first time Gandhi had hurt Maharashtra’s sentiments, citing his past remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a symbol of bravery and pride for Maharashtra and the country. The entire state celebrates Shiv Jayanti with great respect, and using the wrong words for his tribute is unacceptable. This is an insult to Shivaji Maharaj and his followers. Rahul Gandhi must apologize,” Shinde demanded.
छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज जी की जयंती पर उन्हें सादर नमन और अपनी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करता हूं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 19, 2025
अपने साहस और शौर्य से उन्होंने हमें निडरता और पूरे समर्पण के साथ आवाज़ उठाने की प्रेरणा दी।
उनका जीवन हम सभी के लिए सदैव प्रेरणास्रोत रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/1jOCYOkrC1
Rahul Gandhi had earlier shared a social media post honoring Shivaji Maharaj, acknowledging his courage and leadership. However, the use of shraddhanjali—a term typically associated with mourning—sparked backlash, with many political leaders and historians criticizing the wording.