Women offer Namaz at Pune Fort, BJP MP ’Purifies’ area with Cow urine

Women offer Namaz at Pune Fort, BJP MP ’Purifies’ area with Cow urine

Mangalore Today /ndtv

Pune, October 22, 2025: A huge political row has erupted in Pune after a group of Hindu organisations led by BJP MP Medha Kulkarni held a "purification ceremony" at the historic Shaniwar Wada after a viral video showed Muslim women offering Namaz at the fort.

A clip showed the leaders conducting a ’purification’ by cleaning the spot where the women offered Namaz with ’gaumutra’ (cow urine) and performing Shiv Vandana.

According to Kulkarni, the incident at the iconic Pune fort which is a symbol of the Maratha empire was a "matter of concern and outrage for every Punekar".

"This is unfortunate. Shaniwar Wada is not the place to offer namaz. We urge the administration to take strict action against those involved. We performed Shiv Vandana at Shaniwarwada and purified the place. We tried to hoist a saffron flag but the officials stopped us. These people offer namaz at any place and then add it to the Waqf property. The Hindu community is vigilant," she said.