'Aurangzeb's Grave Should Be Demolished': BJP's Navneet Rana Says Amid Row Over Abu Azmi's Remark
Navneet Rana demanded the Maharashtra government that the way Aurangabad's name was changed and kept after Sambhaji Maharaj, his grave should also be demolished.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navneet Rana on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi over his remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
The SP Maharashtra chief sparked a major political controversy by defending Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, stating that he was "not a cruel ruler." His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from leaders across party lines.
Rana hit out at the SP leader saying that the state which elected him to sit in the assembly for five years was ruled by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
"The state in which you are elected to sit in the Assembly for five years was ruled by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. People like you should watch 'Chhava' movie to see what Aurangzeb did with our king," Navneet Rana said.
"I want to request Maharashtra government that the way Aurangabad's name was changed and kept after our God Sambhaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb's grave should also be demolished. People who love Aurangzeb should decorate his grave in their homes," she added.
Azmi, while speaking to reporters during the commencement of the Maharashtra Assembly session in Mumbai, said Aurangzeb had been misrepresented in history.
मेरे शब्दों को तोड़-मरोड़ कर दिखाया गया है। औरंगज़ेब रहमतुल्लाह अलेह के बारे में मैंने वही कहा है जो इतिहासकरों और लेखकों ने कहा है। मैंने छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज, संभाजी महाराज या अन्य किसी भी महापुरषों के बारे में कोई अपमानजनक टिपण्णी नहीं की है - लेकिन फिर भी मेरी इस बात से कोई… pic.twitter.com/k7PY0ICe3b
— Abu Asim Azmi (@abuasimazmi) March 4, 2025
"Aurangzeb got several temples built. In Varanasi, he saved a Hindu girl child from a priest who had an evil eye on her. He had the priest trampled by elephants," Azmi said.
"I don’t consider Aurangzeb a cruel ruler. During that era, power struggles were about politics, not about Hindus versus Muslims. Aurangzeb’s army had many Hindus, and similarly, Chhatrapati Shivaji's army had several Muslims," he added.
Shiv Sena has announced a statewide protest against statements disrespecting Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The party has demanded that a sedition case be filed against Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi and that he be suspended from the Assembly for glorifying Aurangzeb.
Abu Azmi Clarifies Amid Political Row
Abu Azmi has issue a clarification over his remark that led to a political uproar, saying his words have been twisted and he has not made any derogatory comment about Shivaji.
"My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have said about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Alaih. I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any other great men - but still if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement," Azmi said.
"This issue is being made a political issue, and I think that closing the budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly because of this is causing harm to the people of Maharashtra," he added.
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