Abu Azmi Suspended From Maharashtra Assembly For Calling Aurangzeb A 'Good Administrator'

The Samajwadi Party MLA had stated during a media interaction in the Marine Drive area that Aurangzeb was a good administrator. 

The Maharashtra Police have already registered a case against him.

Source : PTI

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday after his remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb snowballed into a controversy.

The Maharashtra Police have already registered a case against him. The Samajwadi Party MLA had stated during a media interaction in the Marine Drive area that Aurangzeb was a good administrator. 

The remarks rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday as the ruling Mahayuti members sought his suspension and accused him of treason. Azmi later retracted his statements, saying his statements were twisted.

"Whatever I have said about Aurangzeb is something that has been stated by historians and writers. I have not made any derogatory remarks against Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any national icons. Still, if anyone is hurt by my remarks, then I take back my statements and comments," he said in a post on X.

The issue is being politicised. Disrupting the budget session due to this is a loss of people of Maharashtra, he added.

What Did Abu Azmi Say?

Azmi had said that during Aurangzeb's reign, India's border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).

"Our GDP accounted for 24 per cent (of the world GDP) and India was called a golden sparrow (during his regime)," claimed the MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai.

Asked about the fight between Aurangzeb and Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Azmi had termed it a political battle.

In the legislative council, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve said not only Azmi but those insulting national icons, including Chhatrapati Shivaji, should be punished.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed the remarks an "insult to the entire Indian society". He alleged that the INDIA bloc constituents are engaged in a "cut-throat competition" with each other to prove themselves anti-Hindu for minority votes.

He also called the comments a "cruel joke" on the traditions established by Chhatrapati Shivaji and the sacrifices made by Chhatrapati Sambhaji.