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Devendra Fadnavis condemned Karnataka’s move to rename Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar metro station after St Mary, calling it an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis the state government is not interested in policing people’s food choices. (Image: PTI/File)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday slammed the Congress government in neighbouring Karnataka for its move to rename Shivajinagar metro rail station in Bengaluru after St Mary.
Talking to reporters, news agency PTI quoted Fadnavis as saying, “I condemn the Karnataka government’s move to rename Shivajinagar metro station in Bengaluru after St Mary. It’s an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Congress has continued its tradition of insulting the Maratha warrior king since the time of Nehru, who made comments against Shivaji Maharaj in his book The Discovery of India.”
This comes after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently said his government would consider renaming Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar metro station after St Mary following a request made during the annual feast at St Mary’s Basilica.
Deputy CM DK Shivakuma claimed there is nothing unusual in responding to such community requests.
Reacting to this, Fadnavis said he was praying that the Almighty give Siddaramaiah sense to not go ahead with such a decision that is based on religion and was against the Maratha warrior king.
Responding to some Opposition leaders suggesting that India could witness civic unrest similar to that in Nepal, and previously in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Fadnavis said such remarks showed the Opposition had stooped to a new low. “You can criticise the government’s programmes and policies, but not the society or the country,” he asserted.
He also asked those criticising the Maratha quota GR to read the document carefully, adding that the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette is not a blanket nod for all Marathas to be given Kunbi caste certificates.
“Only those who possess Kunbi caste documents and evidence will be given caste certificates after proper verification. Those criticising the GR should read it carefully,” CM Fadnavis said.
Maharashtra, India, India
September 11, 2025, 17:06 IST
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