Rajasthan Deputy CM Diya Kumari claims credit for altering historical inscription at Haldighati
Jaipur: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari has stirred controversy by claiming credit for changing a historical inscription at Haldighati, which originally stated that Maharana Pratap lost the battle fought in 1576 against the Mughal forces. Speaking at an event in Jaipur, Kumari proudly declared that the inscription was revised during her tenure as a Member of Parliament in 2021 to now claim that Maharana Pratap had actually won the battle.
“On the inscription in Haldighati, it was written that Maharana Pratap had lost the battle. Back in 2021, when I was an MP, we got it changed. And today if you visit Haldighati, it is written that Maharana Pratap had won that battle. This was my biggest achievement in my tenure,” she said.
The statement has raised serious concerns among historians and scholars, many of whom view it as an attempt to rewrite historical facts for political gain.
The Battle of Haldighati, fought between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal army led by Man Singh I, is widely documented by historians as an inconclusive or tactical defeat for Maharana Pratap, although he continued his resistance against the Mughal Empire afterward.
By altering the official inscription, critics argue, Kumari is not just glorifying regional pride but also undermining academic integrity and historical truth. Such interventions, they say, risk distorting public understanding of the past and set a dangerous precedent where historical records can be tailored to suit political narratives.
This revelation also comes at a time when there is increasing scrutiny over how historical figures and events are being represented in textbooks, museums, and public memorials across India.
The Deputy CM's statement has triggered debate, especially among academicians and social media users, who accuse the BJP-led government of using cultural nationalism to reshape public memory.
As of now, no official response has come from the Archaeological Survey of India or any central heritage body regarding the change in inscription.
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Bike Taxi Association urges Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to ensure policy clarity on operations
Bengaluru (PTI): The BTA said on Wednesday that it had submitted a formal representation to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking urgent clarity and intervention regarding the future of bike taxi operations in the state.
The representation comes in the backdrop of recent media reports suggesting that the state government may consider filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Karnataka High Court order permitting bike taxi operations.
The association said this has created fresh uncertainty among riders.
The Bike Taxi Welfare Association, representing bike taxi riders across Karnataka, said in a statement that such a move appears inconsistent with earlier assurances of a policy-led resolution.
According to the statement, the issue has previously seen engagement at the highest levels, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi writing to the CM, highlighting that lakhs of drivers had been without work for months and urging a timely resolution.
In response, the CM, through an official communication to Rahul Gandhi’s office, reportedly confirmed that the government had initiated steps to develop a comprehensive and legally sound policy framework aligned with High Court directions and public interest.
The association said these assurances had provided hope to thousands of riders seeking a stable and dignified livelihood in the sector.
The BTA emphasised that a majority of bike taxi riders are local Kannadiga youth from modest socio-economic backgrounds, who rely on bike taxi services as their primary source of income in an increasingly competitive job market.
The association has urged the government to prioritise a policy-based resolution over prolonged litigation, calling for the expedited rollout of a framework that is balanced and inclusive, legally robust, aligned with public safety and regulatory compliance, and supportive of livelihoods and last-mile connectivity.
The association reiterated its confidence in the CM’s leadership and expressed hope that a clear, consistent, and forward-looking decision will be taken at the earliest.
