Pune: Yogi Adityanath lauds Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for challenging Mughal emperor Aurangzeb

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Pic/PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday lauded Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for challenging Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's authority. He was speaking at the Geeta Bhakti Amrit Mahotsav at Alandi in Maharashtra's Pune district.

The UP CM said the people of Maharashtra are fortunate as they have blessings from the saints for hundreds of years.

Yogi Aadityanath landed in Pune on Sunday morning and was welcomes by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis was also present at the Geeta Bhakti Amrit Mahotsav at Alandi.

As per PTI report, Aadityanath said, "This shakti emanated from bhakti, is beating the enemies. Samarth Ramdas had created Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from this land, who challenged Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's power and left him to suffer and die and no one is concerned about him till today," he said.

Yogi Adityanath also said the confluence of "bhakti and shakti" led to the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya by breaking the "saga of 500 years of slavery."

"Maharashtra is the land of valour because of its proximity to revered saints. A mixture of devotion and power can be seen in the form of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj", the UP CM said. Adityanath said that after becoming the CM of Uttar Pradesh, he visited Agra where "A 'Mughal museum' was being constructed. "I said that the museum should be named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as we are linked to him and not Mughals," he said, PTI report added.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a defence corridor in UP and it is also dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I am sure that the country's armed forces are achieving the aim of getting atmanirbhar (self-reliant)," Yogi Adityanath added.

Yogi Aadityanath also offered his prayers at the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sanjeevan Samadhi Temple in Pune. Fadnavis also visited the ancient temple at Alandi.

In December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. PM Modi also paid homage to the rich maritime heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who constructed several coastal and sea forts, including the Sindhudurg Fort.

(With PTI inputs)