Congress’s opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Saturday criticized Culture Affairs Minister Sudhir Munganthiwar for the apparent delay in acquiring the renowned wagh nakh (a dagger resembling tiger claws), believed to have been used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to defeat Afzal Khan, from London to Mumbai. Wadettiwar pointed out that Mungantiwar had initially claimed the Wagh Nakh would arrive in November 2023, but as of January 2024, it has not yet materialized.
“November has passed, January has passed. Where is the Wagh Nakh? You (Mungantiwar) went to London for tourism to bring in tiger claws, making a grand show at the airport, using government funds for advertising. However, you returned empty-handed. Afterward, you (Munganthiwar) stated that tiger claws would arrive in November. That month has passed, the year is over, 2024 has begun, and still, the Wagh Nakh has not arrived. Will you return to London now, or will you provide the next date?” Wadettiwar questioned in a post on X.
Last October, the Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with London’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum to retrieve the famed wagh nakh believed to be used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Munganthiwar, who was in London to sign the MoU, had expressed confidence that the tiger claws would be brought to Mumbai by November 2023. However, the recent delay has drawn criticism from the opposition.
According to a state Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Maharashtra Cultural Affairs department, the V&A Museum is lending the wagh nakh to the Maharashtra government for three years. The MoU outlined the details of the three-year loan agreement for the unique pair of tiger claws in the V&A collection. Industries Minister Uday Samant was also present during the MoU signing.
The delay has raised questions about the timeline for the return of this historical artifact, and the opposition is seeking clarification from the Culture Affairs Minister regarding the current status and the anticipated arrival date of the Wagh Nakh in Mumbai.
