By Tejash Modi, Surat, 18 February, 2012

A board meeting on budget 2012-13 in Surat Municipal Corporation today witnessed big fight between BJP and Congress on issue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Today in a board meeting Shri Bhimji Patel, Standing Committee Chairman of BJP ruled body said that the city of Surat was such a fine city that it was selected by Shri Shivaji Maharaj himself among others.

To this, a senior Councillor of Congress party Shri Bhupendra Solanki passed a comment that Shri Bhimjibhai should read the history before making a statement.

Shri Solanki added that Shivaji Maharaj had selected Surat for looting the city.

A Marathi group of BJP Councillors immediately stood up from their seats and said the statement of Solanki was highly objectionable. They surrounded Solanki and expressed anger over his remark on Shivaji.

Later Shri Solanki apologized and clarified that he passed such comment only on the basis of facts narrated in the history.

It should be mentioned that Marathi Councillors of BJP are powered by local MP CR Patil.

Congress Councillors are too few to fight back any attack in Surat Municipal Corporation meetings.