PRELIMS SNIPPETS – November 15th 2022

Tomb of Afzal Khan

Why in News?

  • The Supreme Court (SC) has recently sought reports from the Maharashtra government on the demolition drive conducted around the tomb of Afzal Khan.

Highlights

  • The court stated that these reports should indicate the nature of the structures and whether due process was followed in removing the alleged unauthorized structures.
  • The Maharashtra government stated that the demolition drive was over and illegal structures built on government and forest land were razed.
  • Hindu groups have alleged the Hazarat Mohammad Afzal Khan Memorial Society has expanded the tomb by carrying out unauthorised constructions.
  • In 2004, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) application was filed by a person demanding the demolition.
  • The Hindu groups also claimed the Society was glorifying an “enemy of Swaraj” in “Shivaji’s own land” by hosting various activities in the slain commander’s honour
  • He was a 17th-century commander of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur.
  • With Chhatrapati Shivaji’s rise and increasing control of the region, Afzal Khan was seen as the man to subdue him in the Deccan.
  • Khan put together a force of 10,000 cavalry and marched from Bijapur to Wai, plundering Shivaji’s territory along the way.
  • Shivaji called a council of war at the fort of Pratapgarh, where most of his advisers urged him to make peace. However, Shivaji was not eager to back down and he set up a meeting with Khan.
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