Harshvardhan Sapkal, the fiery Maharashtra Congress chief, unleashed a scathing critique against self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri, claiming the Bageshwar Dham seer now sees himself as divine. This came amid Shastri’s provocative comments on Shivaji Maharaj during his Maharashtra visits.
‘Mental illness is evident,’ Sapkal told journalists, pointing to Shastri’s unchecked false narratives about the iconic king. Despite the blatant misinformation, political opponents remain mute, allowing the damage to fester.
Sapkal mocked Shastri’s bizarre advice from a Nagpur event: Hindu families should have four kids, with one handed over to RSS. ‘BJP leaders, dispatch your broods to RSS—no objections from us. Even the overseas students. Just admit your tricolor allergy first,’ he said with biting irony.
Defending Shivaji’s legacy, Sapkal emphasized the king’s vision of gender equality and inclusive governance. ‘Anyone promoting unity and all-round welfare is a target for RSS-BJP erasure,’ he charged.
Addressing AAP defections to BJP, Sapkal painted it as desperation. ‘No inner strength, no faith in their ranks, no magic touch—hence the scavenging from rival parties. It’s their DNA to splinter others.’
Shastri’s Saturday rally in Nagpur sparked the row, pushing population growth tied to RSS service. Sapkal’s bold stance underscores deepening rifts over faith, history, and politics in the state.
