New Delhi | Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has backed the demand to remove Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Khuldabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. However, he emphasized that any action must follow legal procedures since the site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
“We all want this, but it must be done legally. Years ago, during the Congress government, this site was placed under ASI protection,” Fadnavis stated.
BJP MP Calls for Demolition
BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has called for the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb, questioning its relevance.
“Send a JCB and demolish it. Why do we need it? He was a thief and a robber,” Bhosale remarked.
He also criticized those who visit the tomb, saying they should take it home if they wish to honor Aurangzeb. He warned that any attempt to glorify the Mughal emperor “will not be tolerated.”
Political Controversy: What Happened?
The debate intensified after Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi recently claimed that Aurangzeb was not a cruel ruler and had even built temples. He argued that the conflict between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was about power, not religion.
Azmi’s remarks sparked outrage, leading to protests by BJP and Shiv Sena legislators in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Facing backlash, Azmi later retracted his statement, saying his words were misinterpreted. He clarified that he only referred to historical accounts and meant no disrespect to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any other historical figure.
Azmi Defends His Statement, Rejects Religious Angle
Despite the controversy, Azmi defended his remarks, arguing that Aurangzeb’s army included Hindus and that he destroyed both temples and mosques.
“If Aurangzeb was anti-Hindu, how did 34% of his army consist of Hindus?” he questioned. He further claimed that India was called the “golden bird” during Aurangzeb’s reign and urged people not to view history from a Hindu-Muslim perspective.
Deputy CM Calls for Sedition Case
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned Azmi’s statements and demanded a sedition case against him.
Aurangzeb’s Tomb: A Historical Site
Aurangzeb died in 1707 at the age of 87 and was buried in Khuldabad, 25 km from Aurangabad, near his wife’s tomb, Bibi Ka Maqbara. He had wished to be buried near his spiritual guide, Sufi saint Syed Zainuddin. Initially, his grave was a simple open-air tomb, but the Nizam of Hyderabad later added a marble enclosure at the request of Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India.
