'Aurangzeb Was A Good Ruler, Only Destroyed...': Maulana Sajid Rashidi Amid Row Over Mughal Leader

The remark from Rashidi comes amid the ongoing row after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb, drawing severe criticism and police complaints against the leader.

File photo of All India Imam Association President Sajid Rashidi.

Source : X

Speaking on the ongoing row over Aurangzeb, Maulana Sajid Rashidi has heaped praises on the Mughal ruler calling him 'a good leader'.

The President of the All India Imam Association said that Aurangzeb destroyed only five or six temples and added that the Mughal ruler also destroyed Mosques.

The remark from Rashidi comes amid the ongoing row after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb, drawing severe criticism and police complaints against the leader. 

"Aurangzeb was a good ruler, and there is no doubt about it. The mistake was that (Abu) Asim Azmi made a statement but later backed down. He was unable to explain why Aurangzeb was a good ruler," Sajid Rashidi said.

VIDEO | Aurangzeb Row: All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi says, "Aurangzeb was a good ruler, and there is no doubt about it. The mistake was that (Abu) Asim Azmi made a statement but later backed down. He was unable to explain why Aurangzeb was a good… pic.twitter.com/vmbtxyQBwG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 25, 2025

He claimed that the Mughal ruler gave donations to several temples, adding that he demolished only 5-6 temples. 

"Many historians have stated that Aurangzeb was indeed a good ruler... There are hundreds of temples to which he donated. The number of temples he destroyed is around five or six. Aurangzeb did not just destroy temples, he also destroyed mosques," he added.

There have been rising demands in Maharashtra for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Several BJP leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and UP CM Yogi Adityanath have issued strict warning against those glorifying the Mughal leader.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi has often made news with his statements. Last month, Rashidi made headlines after he claimed that he voted for the BJP in the Delhi Assembly Elections.