Maharashtra govt committed to resolve Vishalgad Fort encroachment issue, says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday underlined the Mahayuti governments commitment to legally address the issue of encroachments at Vishalgad fort an assurance following recent violence during a drive to remove illegal structures at the historic site reported news agency PTIFadnavis who also handles the Home portfolio emphasised the governments dedication to removing encroachments from all forts across MaharashtraThe encroachment and illegal construction at Vishalgad fort is an old issue which resurfaced because former Rajya Sabha member Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje called against illegal structures Fadnavis told reportersThe antiencroachment drive at Vishalgad Fort located in Kolhapur district turned violent on Sunday as a mob hurled stones at police personnel and damaged properties leading to the arrest of 21 people according to policeThe situation turned tense after some rightwing activists led by Maratha royal and former MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati who had come from Pune were stopped at the base of the Vishalgad Fort in view of prohibitory ordersOn Tuesday Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders including Kolhapur MP Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and MLC Satej Patil both from Congress visited VishalgadChhatrapati Shahu appealed to the government to ensure peace at the siteThe state government wants to establish peace at Vishalgad We want to remove encroachments within the legal framework at Vishalgad and every fort in Maharashtra Fadnavis added reported PTIThe Deputy CM has urged Opposition leaders to clarify their position on the Vishalgad issue emphasising the need to preserve historical sites while dealing with illegal constructions reported PTIThe government is facing criticism from the opposition which claims the prevalence of jungle raj in Maharashtra under the BJPShiv SenaNCP government led by CM Eknath Shinde reported PTIVishalgad fort holds profound significance in Maratha history as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped to it after being besieged at Panhala Fort in 1660 In 1844 Vishalgad was ruled by the Kolhapur State when a rebellion was led against a Brahmin regent who had been installed by the British when the natural heir to the throne was underageMeanwhile the violence prompted the Opposition to target the Shiv Senaled Mahayuti government and wonder whether the jungle raj is prevailing in the stateLeader of the opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve said Maratha royal Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati was also booked for leading the march to the fortI had visited Vishalgad fort twice and seen encroachments Sambhajiraje had only asked the state government to remove encroachments however instead of taking action an offence was registered against him Danve who belongs to Shiv Sena UBT told reporters in Chhatrapati SambhajinagarIs the government protecting these encroachments he askedFormer All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel criticised Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati exRajya Sabha member and heir to Kolhapur royal family for leading the march to the fortYou could go to Delhi because Muslims had voted for you We used to respect you but since you led the violent protest at Vishalgad fort we wonder whether you are truly a descendant of Shahu Maharaj he saidJaleel alleged legal procedure was not adhered to while implementing the antiencroachment drive and homes of people were vandalised and vehicles burnt down by miscreants Is jungle raj prevailing in Maharashtra he questionedWith inputs from PTI