Cow-urine Purification at Shaniwarwada Prompts Case

A viral video showing three Muslim women offering namaz at Pune’s historic Shaniwarwada sparked a major political row after it circulated online. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni led a march of Hindutva activists to the monument, performed a purification ritual using cow urine at the spot, posted the clip and declared Shaniwarwada would not allow namaz while urging Hindus to unite. Authorities registered a case against the three unidentified women under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Rules, 1959 for allegedly violating protocols for protected monuments. Opposition parties including the NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and AAP condemned Kulkarni’s actions as hate-mongering and demanded her resignation, saying the move distracts from pressing issues and risks stoking communal tension. Kulkarni defended her conduct by arguing Hindus should be allowed to perform aarti in mosques, while some BJP supporters, including MLA Nitesh Rane, backed the protesters and said prayers should be offered only at designated places.