Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Nov 14: Maharashtra Congress legislator Nitesh Rane, son of former Chief minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane, has demanded that Girish Karnad should either apologise or face the Maratha heat for his reference to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Jnanpith award winner Karnad had stoked a controversy this week when he said that 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan would have enjoyed the same status of Shivaji, if he was a Hindu and not a Muslim.

"Whatever happens in Karnataka is their issue we but will not allow any Karnad to compare our Shivaji Maharaj to anyone. Maharaj was much greater than all these. So I dare Karnad to come and say the same thing on our Maharashtra soil and see if he goes back," Nitesh posted on his twitter handle.

"This Karnad earns from our Bollywood for years and then dares to insult our Maharaj. He either should apologise or face the Maratha heat," the twitter post adds.

Kankavkli constituency MLA made it clear that unless Karnad tenders an apology to Maharashtra, he will not be allowed to enter the state.

"Tipu Sultan must be a good king in his own right but comparing him to Shivaji Maharaj does not fit anywhere. Shivaji Maharaj was much above," Rane said.

Karnad had also come under criticism from the Shiv Sena, which said that Tipu Sultan cannot be compared to the Maratha king, who was a judicious leader and had compassion for the poor and the sons of the soil irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.

Karnad, who also came under attack for his remarks that the Bengaluru international airport should have been named after Tipu Sultan rather than the city's founder Kempe Gowda, received a threat on Twitter that he would meet with the same fate as rationalist M M Kalburgi.

Security has been provided at the residence of Karnad in the wake of the controversy over his remarks.

Nitesh Rane had earlier made comments against the Gujarati community for being vegetarians. His comments had embarrassed his party.