Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Medha Kulkarni sparked controversy after she held a “purification” ceremony at Pune’s historic Shaniwar Wada, using cow urine (gaumutra) and chanting Shiv Vandana, after a video allegedly showing Muslim women offering Namaz at the site went viral on social media. Kulkarni claimed the act of offering Namaz had “hurt the sentiments of Punekars” and was “unacceptable” at a monument considered sacred to Maratha heritage.
“Shaniwar Wada is not a place to offer Namaz. We performed Shiv Vandana and purified the place. We also tried to hoist a saffron flag but were stopped by officials. Such incidents cannot be ignored,” she said.
The incident of women offering Namaz reportedly took place on Saturday, and a complaint was later filed by an official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) with Pune City Police. Shaniwar Wada, built in the 18th century, is a protected heritage monument and a prominent symbol of the Maratha Empire.
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane supported Kulkarni’s actions and rhetoric. “Shaniwar Wada is a symbol of bravery and devotion. If Hindus perform Hanuman Chalisa inside Haji Ali, wouldn’t that offend Muslims? Religious practices should be confined to their respective places of worship,” he said.
However, opposition leaders sharply criticised the BJP MP’s actions, accusing her of using the incident to provoke communal tensions.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) spokesperson Rupali Patil Thombre demanded legal action against Kulkarni. “She is trying to turn this into a Hindu-Muslim issue. Pune has always stood for peace and coexistence, and such divisive politics will not be tolerated,” she said.
AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan also condemned the “purification” ritual, calling it a deliberate attempt to polarise. “If a few women offered Namaz for three minutes, what harm did it cause? ASI-protected monuments are for everyone. Instead of purifying the fort, they should purify their minds,” Pathan said.
Police have registered a case against unidentified women seen offering Namaz in the reported video. Authorities said security has been stepped up at Shaniwar Wada to prevent further disturbances. “Shaniwar Wada is an ASI-protected monument. We will take appropriate action based on the complaint and ensure the site’s historical significance is preserved,” a senior police official said.
