India, April 26 -- The Mahayuti government was embarrassed for the second time in two days on Saturday, over remarks relating to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, by people linked to the ruling alliance.

On Thursday, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad threatened the publisher of a book on Shivaji, and on Saturday, it was Hindu preacher Dhirendra Shastri who had left the government red-faced. As the opposition attacked the government, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Shastri's remarks and pulled up Gaikwad for his "unacceptable" behaviour.

At an RSS event on Saturday, Shastri claimed that during a meeting between Shivaji and 17th century Marathi saint, Samarth Ramdas, the former expressed a desire to renounce his responsibilities, an...