Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal apologises to followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji

Following widespread outrage over his remarks, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) apologised unconditionally to followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Any hurt caused to their sentiments was unintended and deeply regretted, Mr. Sapkal said.

In an appeal issued two days before Shivaji Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior king, Mr. Sapkal sought to put the controversy to rest. The Maratha ruler remained his foremost inspiration and there could be no comparison between Chhatrapati Shivaji and any other historical figure, he said.

“If my words, even in a misinterpreted form, have caused pain to those who revere Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I sincerely apologise. That was never my intent,” Mr. Sapkal said in a message addressed to the public. His earlier remarks had been made in response to a query on the display of portraits of historical personalities in government establishments to foster unity, he said.

He had only made a factual observation regarding Tipu Sultan, drawing inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s resistance against the British, Mr. Sapkal said. A 70-second portion of his speech had been deliberately taken out of context by his political opponents to stoke religious tensions, he added. Citing recent protests in Pune, he said the controversy had been amplified to create religious friction.

Mr. Sapkal courted controversy by comparing Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Saturday (February 14, 2026) to say both historic figures should be seen in the same league. The issue pertained to an image of Tipu Sultan seen in the chamber of the Deputy Mayor of Malegaon, which the Shiv Sena protested against.

“I hold Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the highest regard. His legacy stands alone and cannot be equated with anyone. The question of comparison simply does not arise,” Mr. Sapkal said.

He urged the public to not fall prey to misinformation, and appealed for calm, asking that the matter be laid to rest. Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) directly in this part of his address, he suggested that certain elements were deliberately fanning discord to divert attention from pressing concerns affecting the common man.

Mr. Sapkal’s remarks came amid escalating political sparring over the issue, with various outfits demanding action against him. The apology drew mixed reactions. While some welcomed the clarification, others continued to demand a fuller explanation.

Mr. Sapkal accused the BJP of shifting focus from pressing issues, including agrarian distress and a proposed trade agreement with the U.S. “If they wish to silence me for exposing their actions, let them try. I will not be cowed down, nor will I cease speaking the truth,” Mr. Sapkal said, referring to reports of BJP leaders announcing a reward for anyone who would cut his (Mr. Sapkal’s) tongue.