Malegaon Deputy Mayor to Display Tipu Sultan Portrait Despite BJP Opposition
In a move that has ignited political controversy, Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, the newly elected deputy mayor of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation, announced on Monday her intention to display a portrait of Tipu Sultan alongside those of four other prominent national leaders once the renovation of her office is completed.
Renovation Work Leads to Temporary Removal
Speaking to media representatives, Deputy Mayor Nihal Ahmed clarified that the portrait of Tipu Sultan was removed temporarily solely to prevent damage during ongoing renovation work. "The renovation work is in its final stages and is expected to be completed in the next few days," she stated. "Once the renovation is over, I will proudly display the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, warrior queen Rani Lakshmi Bai, and Tipu Sultan in my office."
Gift from Alliance Partners on First Day
The deputy mayor revealed that on her very first day in office last Friday, alliance partners presented her with the portrait of Tipu Sultan as a gift, which was initially placed in the deputy mayor's chamber. Due to the ongoing renovation activities, the portrait was subsequently taken down temporarily to avoid any potential damage.
Criticism of Civic Administration
Nihal Ahmed also expressed her dissatisfaction with the civic administration for failing to ensure that photographs of iconic national leaders were displayed on the day she assumed her official charge. "It is the fundamental responsibility of the administration to guarantee that the portraits of great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr Ambedkar are prominently on display from the very first day," she emphasized.
Constitutional Justification for Tipu Sultan Portrait
Defending her decision to include Tipu Sultan's portrait, the deputy mayor pointed out that both Tipu Sultan and Rani Lakshmi Bai are featured in the Constitution of India. "There is nothing above the Constitution," she asserted. "Tipu Sultan was a significant historical figure who valiantly fought against the British, and his contributions have been widely acknowledged and documented by historians."
BJP Opposition and Warning
Meanwhile, Nilesh Kachave, the BJP's Nashik rural president, issued a stern warning to the deputy mayor, urging her not to reinstall Tipu Sultan's portrait in the municipal office. Kachave declared that he would file a formal police complaint if the portrait was displayed again, highlighting the deepening political divide over this symbolic gesture.
The situation underscores the ongoing tensions between different political factions regarding historical narratives and symbolic representations in public offices, with the deputy mayor standing firm on her constitutional rights to honor diverse national figures.
