Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has welcomed UNESCO’s inclusion of 12 forts—including 11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu—in the World Heritage List, and urged the Maharashtra government to immediately demolish all unauthorised structures around these sites, irrespective of the religion or caste of the encroachers.
In a post on social media platform X, Thackeray said, “The government should not just celebrate this but also acknowledge the responsibility. Firstly, the government should demolish all the unauthorised constructions on these forts immediately, regardless of the religion or caste of the encroachers.”
Calling it a proud moment for the state, Thackeray said UNESCO’s recognition highlights the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the cultural and historical significance of the forts built during his reign.
He also issued a cautionary note on preserving this new global recognition: “UNESCO has strict criteria for the conservation and renovation of World Heritage sites. If the criteria are not followed properly, the status gets withdrawn.” Citing global precedents, he pointed to the delisting of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman and Dresden Valley in Germany as examples of non-compliance.
Thackeray urged the government to allocate dedicated funds for the conservation and development of tourism at the forts. “Every single government in the past had left these forts in a state of disrepair, making it impossible to invite the world to visit them and show them the glory of our Maharaj and Maharashtra. I hope that this will change now,” he said.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) president Sharad Pawar also echoed the sentiment, sharing Thackeray’s message and stating that this honour brings with it a responsibility to preserve and respectfully maintain the forts. “If we are to keep history alive, it must be brought to life not only in memory but also in action. For without conservation, heritage merely remains a memory,” Pawar said on X.
He added that the inclusion of these forts in UNESCO’s World Heritage List marks a new chapter in bringing the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the global stage. “This is not merely a historical honour, but a mark of glory that underscores the global significance of the forts that stand as witnesses to our Swarajya,” he wrote.
Pawar thanked the Government of India, the Archaeological Department, and historians for this achievement.
(With input from IANS)
