BJP MP Pradeep Purohit, Member of Parliament from Bargarh, sparked a massive controversy during his address in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his previous birth, was none other than the legendary Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Purohit recounted an encounter with a saint who allegedly told him that PM Modi was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his past life. Elaborating on the claim, the MP asserted that PM Modi is indeed Shivaji Maharaj, who has reincarnated to lead Maharashtra and the country toward progress and development.
However, the statement did not sit well with few congress leaders and netizens, who criticised it as an insult to the legacy and greatness of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Many expressed their displeasure on social media, calling the comparison disrespectful to the revered historical figure. Some have also asked the MP to issue apology for the same.
Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad reacting to the statement said, These people grossly insulted Shivaji Maharaj by placing the honorable jiretope of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Narendra Modi's head. And now listen to this disgusting statement of this BJP MP...
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi too reacted on social media and said,"These shameless sycophants of BJP need to be controlled. This comparison of PM Modi to Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj is absolutely unacceptable."
One user, reflecting disbelief and mockery toward the claim, questioned its logic and wrote, 'Where was Modi in the years between Chhatrapati and Modi's birth?? Please tell me this too...! You are a fool.
Another user, expressing concern over the politicisation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, wrote, 'Narendra Modi was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his previous life!', he further wrote, Is this not an insult to Shivaji Maharaj? He was the founder of Swarajya, not the symbol of any party. Doesn't linking valour, sacrifice, and ideology with politics limit their greatness?'
One user sarcastically wrote, "Good," while another commented, "This is the height of flattery."
This is not the first time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been compared to great leaders and warriors of the country.
Let’s take a look at instances when PM Modi was likened to historical figures:
Comparison to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (2020)
In 2020, the release of a book titled Aaj ke Shivaji: Narendra Modi by BJP leader Jay Bhagwan Goyal sparked a political controversy. The book drew parallels between PM Modi and the legendary Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The release attracted criticism from the then-ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, with its allies slamming both the author and the BJP for the comparison.
Comparison to Emperor Ashoka (2014)
In 2014, during the 2,323rd birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka, BJP MLC Surajnanadan compared PM Modi to the ancient Mauryan emperor.
Calling Emperor Ashoka a “nationalist” whose imperial territory aligned with the BJP’s idea of Akhand Bharat (undivided India), Surajnanadan remarked, “There is a similarity between PM Modi and Emperor Ashoka.”
