Maharashtra: Parties pan BJP leader's 'Shivaji Modi' book

MUMBAI: A book release in Delhi has kicked up a political storm in Maharashtra. 'Today's Shivaji, Narendra Modi' written by BJP's Jai Bhagwan Goyal has been sharply criticised by all three parties in the ruling alliance--the Shiv Sena, Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Rajya Sabha MP and editor of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna', Sanjay Raut, tweeted, "Satara gaadiche varasdar shrimant Udayan Raje, shrimant Shivendraraje, Kolhapurche Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje yaana he manya aahe ka? Shivrayanchya vanshjaanon bola....kahitari bola." (Inheritors of the Satara throne Udayan Raje, Shivendraraje, Kolhapur Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje, is this acceptable to you? Descendants of King Shivaji, say something).
Public works minister and former CM Ashok Chavan of the Congress said, "No matter how much anyone tries, he cannot be worthy of Shivaji's toenail."
Water conservation minister and NCP state president Jayant Patil said, "Tall and vast as the Sahyadri ranges, my king cannot be compared to anyone. Keep this in mind else, you have to face Maharashtra." Tweeting a picture of the book release, housing minister and NCP's Jitendra Awhad said, "Have they lost their mind?"
BJP leaders in Maharashtra maintained a silence. BJP sources, however, said Goyal had been with the Shiv Sena for several decades, but quit in 2008 over the party's angst against North Indians. He joined the BJP in 2014.