New History of the Marathas v2.c26.67

v2.c26.67

The Wazir-Pathan war was resumed after the rains. Instead of attempting conciliation, the Wazir disclosed a spirit of vengeance against the Pathans. The latter burnt their own lands and houses and resorted to the northern jungles and urgently invited Ahmad Shah Abdali to India. At this moment they obtained a unique leader, the famous Najib-uddaula, a bitter enemy of the Marathas and by no means friendly to the Emperor. He twisted the plain facts of the situation and took up the cry of “ religion in danger,” in order to denounce both the Marathas and their supporter Safdar Jang. The cry appealed to the common Muslim sentiment and helped to weaken the Maratha position. It was never obviously the intention of the Marathas to attack Islam or to convert Muslims to their faith. They were seeking only political power and through it religious freedom.