In an attempt to stave off the escalating political crisis triggered by US scholar James Laine's book on Shivaji, chief minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday said a high-power committee would look into the issue.
The panel, comprising additional chief secretary (home) Chandra Iyengar, state advocate general Ravi Kadam and principal secretary (law) V L Achaliya will find a solution to the crisis in the wake of Supreme Court's judgment revoking the ban on `Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India'.
"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a highly respected figure. The state government shares the public sentiments on the issue. The panel will examine the controversy and the apex court judgment in entirety and come up with a reasonable solution," Chavan said at a press conference at the Sahydari guesthouse after the customary tea party on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session.
The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP combine and the Raj Thackeray led MNS boycotted the tea conclave. The three parties and the Maratha Mahasangh and the Sambhaji brigade have severely riled the DF government for not effectively representing its case in the apex court on the Laine issue.
Pointing out that the controversy had legal implications, Chavan said a proper legal approach needs to be taken and acceptable solution will have to be hammered out. "There is no need to politicise the issue as the DF government understands and shares the public ire on this matter," he added.
The CM said the Opposition parties should have attended the customary tea meeting. His decision to set up a high-profile committee on the controversy is an astute move to placate the saffron Opposition and the other radical group which have taken exception to SC verdict.
Home minister R R Patil said the government would find out if there was a deliberate mischief to malign Shivaji and whether somebody had wrongly briefed the US author. Patil further added that a request would be made to the Union government to see that Laine's book is not sold in other parts of the country.
On the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute Chavan said an all party delegation would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 14 in New Delhi to represent the state's case in the long-drawn boundary spat. Further elaborating on best five issue, he said, "We have done our best. The apex court orders are expected on Monday. Will speak on the issue after the court orders."