India's Hindu nationalists take 17th-century king as new anti-Muslim symbol

Summary

Statues of 17th-century kind Shivaji have been erected across various Indian cities over the past few years by Hindu nationalist groups, who view him as a symbolic defender of Hindus against Muslims. The campaign marks another act of intolerance toward Muslim and Christian minorities, who have been targeted since the Bharatiya Janata Party took power 12 years ago.