Mumbai:
The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on James Laine's controversial book on Shivaji, but the Maharashtra government is looking for an emergency exit. At stake is the issue of who can monopolize the Shivaji legacy and the Maratha vote, which accounts for 30% of the electorate.
The opposition Shiv Sena and the BJP made fiery references to the book on Monday in the Assembly, forcing the house to adjourn briefly. The Speaker of the house finally agreed to the Sena's demand for a discussion on the issue.
''We will fight against any assault on Marathi pride,'' declared Subhash Desai, a spokesperson for the Shiv Sena
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has appointed a special committee to decide whether it can prevent the publication and sale of the book despite the court order. ''The state government has the option to file a revision to the Supreme Court decision,'' said Digvijay Singh, senior Congress leader.(
Read: Ban on Shivaji book: Panel to explore legal options)
'Shivaji-The Hindu King in Muslim India' was written by Laine, a professor of religious studies, and was published in 2003 by the Oxford University Press in New York and New Delhi.
In 2004, soon after saffron fringe groups vandalised Pune's Bhandarkar Institute over alleged derogatory references to Shivaji's in the book, the Shiv Sena joined the protests. The Congress-led government responded by banning the book
on the grounds that it could lead to communal tension. The Bombay High Court, in 2007, lifted the ban, after which the state government appealed to the Supreme Court, where it has lost its case.(With PTI Inputs)
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