The simmering feud between rival royal factions spilled over into Tuesday. This time as a warning.
Police officers surrounded the 450-year-old City Palace in Udaipur following the unrest on Monday evening when Vishvaraj Singh, the new Maharana of Mewar, was denied entry by his uncle, Arvind Singh, and his son, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.
“People in political positions should not abuse their position and power in the government to enter our house,” said Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, who warned his cousin Vishvaraj Singh, a BJP MLA.
“People can't force themselves into our house. Legal options are open,” he added.
Vishvaraj Singh – the BJP MLA from Rajsamand where his wife Mahima Kumari is the sitting MP – was formally declared the heir apparent of the Mewar dynasty at a traditional coronation ceremony at the historic Chittorgarh Fort, 12 days after the death of his father Mahendra Singh. Mewar. To take up his post, Vishvaraj had to pray at a family shrine in the City Palace fort and then at the Eklingnath Ji Temple to complete the ritual.
The City Palace and Eklingnathji Temple are under the control of Arvind Singh.
However, after violent protests broke out outside the City Palace on Monday evening, the district administration appointed a curator for the controversial part of the City Palace and now the decision on access will be made by the administrator.
“I want to make it clear that Eklingji Mandir is open to everyone. Mandir is not for a show of power. It is open to everyone. Please go for worship,” Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar said.
“We will adhere to the rule of law. We cannot take the law into our hands. Let's not spoil the atmosphere,” he added.
The dispute between two factions of this family dates back to the 1980s when Vishwaraj and Lakshay Raj's grandfather, the late Maharana Bhagwat Singh, transferred all the trusts that manage the royal family's forts, palaces and temples to his younger son Arvind Singh Mewar.
Since then, the family has been divided into two factions and Vishwendra and his late father Mahendra Singh have been kept out of the city palace.
