Shivaji Maharaj's 'wagh nakh' to be brought from UK for 3 years after signing MoU: Mungantiwar

Sudhir Mungantiwar. File Pic

Shivaji Maharaj's 'Wagh nakh': The legendary 'wagh nakh' or the tiger claw dagger of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be brought back to Maharashtra from the UK for three years, state Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Sunday, reported the PTI.

"The state government and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London will sign a MoU on Tuesday for the return of the weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to India for a period of three years," Mungantiwar who is leaving for the UK on Sunday late night told PTI.

He said the "wagh nakh" is likely to be brought back to Maharashtra very soon after signing the agreement.

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The 'wagh nakh' was used by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659.

A row has erupted with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioning if the 'wagh nakh' being brought from a museum in the United Kingdom would stay here permanently or be on loan and whether it belonged to Shivaji Maharaj or was it from that era.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP's youth wing on Sunday staged a protest in Maharashtra's Latur city against the remarks of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray about the 'wagh nakh', the iconic tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, reported the PTI.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Aaditya Thackeray had asked if the 'wagh nakh' being brought to Maharashtra from a museum in the United Kingdom would stay here permanently or was it on loan and whether it belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or was it from that era.

The protesters, who assembled at Gandhi Chowk in the city, accused Thackeray of hurting the sentiments of the followers of Shivaji Maharaj.

The wagh nakh was used by Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur general Afzal Khan in 1659.

Maharashtra culture minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and officials from his department are slated to go to the UK on October 3 to get the fabled weapon back.

Thackeray on Saturday attributed his comments about the authenticity of wagh nakh to the information shared on the website of the London-based Victoria and Albert Museum, where the weapon is currently kept.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Thackeray's comments about the wagh nakh were childish and unworthy of a response.

Fadnavis also said that the (undivided) Shiv Sena had a history of asking such insulting questions and alleged that its leader Sanjay Raut had once questioned the lineage of the legendary warrior king.

(with PTI inputs)