A viral video allegedly showing Muslims offering namaz inside Pune’s historic Shaniwar Wada fort has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with BJP workers, led by Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni, staging a provocative “purification ritual” on Sunday by sprinkling cow urine and dung at the site. The 18th-century fort, a revered symbol of the Maratha Empire’s glory under the Peshwas, became a battleground for cultural and religious sentiments, escalating tensions in a city known for its cosmopolitan ethos.

Kulkarni, who shared the video on X, rallied supporters for a protest, decrying the alleged prayers as an affront to the fort’s legacy tied to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Swarajya. “This is a matter of concern and anger for every Punekar,” she posted, accusing the Pune administration of neglecting heritage sanctity. Speaking to reporters, she revealed contacting Maharashtra’s archaeological department, which confirmed the individuals were removed from the premises. “We’ve seen places where namaz is offered later become religious sites. We protested to prevent such encroachment,” Kulkarni asserted, insisting that no single religion’s rituals belong at the historic site.

The protest took a volatile turn when some agitators targeted the nearby Hazrat Khwaja Sayyed Dargah, demanding its demolition. Clashes erupted as police intervened with mild force, dispersing the crowd after a tense two-hour standoff. Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane backed the protesters, arguing, “Shaniwar Wada is a symbol of Hindu valour. If namaz is offered there, would Muslims accept Hindus chanting Hanuman Chalisa at Haji Ali?” Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP slammed Kulkarni for “communalizing” the issue, with spokesperson Rupali Patil Thombare demanding legal action and insisting, “Shaniwar Wada belongs to all Punekars, not one group.”

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The Maharashtra Samajwadi Party’s Abu Asim Azmi condemned the cow urine ritual as an insult to Muslims, warning of a “befitting reply” and accusing the BJP of divisive tactics. As Pune grapples with this flare-up, the incident—amplified by viral clips and fiery rhetoric—raises questions about balancing heritage preservation with communal harmony in a city proud of its pluralistic roots. With police now on high alert, the Shaniwar Wada row underscores the fragile fault lines of religious coexistence in modern India.

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