Don't use Shivaji's name, says heir

Udayanraje Bhosale, an heir of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji and Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Satara has urged all the political parties, including the Shiv Sena, not to use Maratha warrior's name for political purposes.

Talking to newspersons in Nashik, Bhosale felt that Shivaji's image was being tarnished in the allegations that the political parties, including Shiv Sena, were leveling against each other on the issue of books written by James Laine and Dr Surendra Nath Sen.

Bhosale, here to campaign for BJP-Shiv Sena, said Vajpayee had opposed Congress-NCP government's decision to ban the controversial book in the state. He said Shivaji did not belong to any political party but was a national hero.