Guardian minister’s pressure delays removal of encroachments on Vishalgad : Vishalgad Protection and Anti-Encroachment Action Committee

Demand to take action against the then District Collector for misleading devout Hindu activists

Encroachment removal begins

Kolhapur – ‘On 14^thJuly, after the outbreak of angry devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the administration started to remove encroachments on 15^thJuly 2024. The administration sought legal advice from the State Advocate General on removal of encroachments. He had advised action against encroachments other than those where High Court or other Courts have issued a stay order. The order was not to take action against the encroachments only where the petitioners have filed cases in the Court; then, why didn’t the District Administration remove the remaining encroachments ? The devout Hindu activists and fort-lovers were misled by the Administration by informing them that the matter about all encroachments was sub-judice. The local Court issued an order to remove the encroachments; still, the then District Collector Rahul Rekhawar delayed taking action; therefore, the petitioners got an opportunity to go to the higher Court. Hence, the Government should take action against the then District Collector for misleading devout Hindu activists,’ stated Babasaheb Bhopale, the Convenor of Vishalgad Protection Committee, through a press release. He added, ‘The Administration doesn’t take any action without the consent of the guardian minister. It can be construed that the encroachments could not be removed due to the pressure exerted by the guardian minister. The question arised whether the guardian minister represents all the people or only the minority ?’

Encroachment removal begins

Important points raised by Babasaheb Bhopale in the press release

The then District Collector Rekhawar repeatedly lied to the devout Hindu activists

After the local Court ordered to remove the encroachments, the then District Collector Rekhawar had claimed that removing encroachments during monsoon season was not allowed. In that case, how are the encroachments being removed now in monsoon ? He had also told the devout Hindu activists that action cannot be taken if the High Court has issued a stay order. It has been now observed that the stay order was pertaining only to six structures.  It shows that the then District Collector Rekhawar continuously misled the devout Hindu activists.

Immediately withdraw all the cases against devout Hindu activists

Encroachment removal begins

The outburst of fury on 14^thJuly was due to the soft and unjust stand of the State Administration. The cases filed against devout Hindu activists as applied in case of robbers, and arrest of innocent activists is totally wrong. Hence, all the cases against pro-Hindu activists should be immediately withdrawn and the drive undertaken against the encroachments on Vishalgad should be stopped only after the removal of all the encroachment. The encroachments on other forts in the State should also be removed, demanded the committee.

Vishalgad Protection and anti-Encroachment Action Committee exposed the encroachments on Vishalgad

In March 2021, the committee first exposed the encroachments on Vishalgad and extreme negligence by the Archaeology Department in maintaining the temple and samadhi, in a press conference. The committee has also been fighting through demonstrations, submitting memorandum on the issue and taking up the issue in State Legislative sessions.