Hindu organisations staged protests in Pune on Sunday after a video showing Muslim women offering namaz at the historic Shaniwar Wada went viral on social media. The incident drew sharp reactions from right-wing groups and political leaders, including BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni.
Kulkarni, who shared the video on X, demanded strict action from the authorities. “This is unfortunate. Shaniwar Wada is not the place to offer namaz. We urge the administration to take strict action against those involved,” she said while leading a protest in the city.
Several Hindu groups, including the Patit Pavan Sanghatna and Hindu Sakal Samaj, participated in the demonstration. The protesters sprinkled cow urine at the site and performed ‘Shiv Vandana’ (a Hindu prayer), saying they were “purifying” the place after the namaz was offered there.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said that the site falls under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “We will speak to the ASI and take further action after that,” he said.
Shaniwar Wada, built in 1736 by the Peshwas, was once a 13-storey palace and is considered a major symbol of Pune’s history and Maratha heritage. The fort was largely destroyed in a fire in 1828, leaving behind its massive gates and fortification walls, which are now preserved as a protected historical site.
