Former Supreme Court judge P B Sawant opposes Maharashtra government's award to Purandare

PUNE: Former Press Council of India chairman and retired Supreme Court judge P B Sawant today opposed the Maharashtra government's decision to bestow its highest 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award on noted historian Babasaheb Purandare.

"No person, who insults Chhatrapati Shivaji and Jijau (mother of the Maratha warrior king) should be given any award," Sawant told here.

Stating that such awards do not belong to the government, Justice Sawant said, "The award is given on behalf of the people of Maharashtra and therefore if they are opposed to giving it to a person, the government should respect their opinion."

"This will amount to devaluation of the Maharashtra Bhushan award and an insult to the people of the state and the country," he asserted.

Purandare has been in the eye of a storm since the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state announced the Maharashtra Bhushan award to him for his contribution as a historian.

However, a section of the Maratha community has opposed the decision, accusing him of distorting history with derogatory references to King Shivaji's parentage.