‘Aurangzeb's Grave Can't Be Destroyed…’: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Says Amid Calls To 'Raze Tomb'

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said Aurangzeb's grave, a protected ASI site, cannot be destroyed but vowed to oppose any attempts to glorify the Mughal ruler.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a statement said that Aurangzeb’s grave couldn’t be destroyed because it was declared a protected place over 50 years ago by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“So it is the state and central government’s responsibility to protect the grave,” he said while speaking in Bhiwandi.

He said it was "unfortunate" that the Mughal emperor's grave had to be protected though he killed thousands of "our people".

But he asserted that he will ensure his grave is not glorified in any way.

“We will ensure that Aurangzeb's grave is not glorified in any way. If anyone attempts to do so, we will strongly oppose it. I make this pledge before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”.

How The Controversy Started

The controversy began earlier this month with Samajwadi Party MP Abu Azmi eulogising the Mughal era ruler during an interview. Subsequently, he was suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for the remainder of the budget session.

The row has since snowballed which escalated after some Hindu organisations threatened a "Babri-like" action if Aurangzeb's tomb is not razed in Sambhaji Nagar. 

On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the opposition parties and those glorifying Aurangzeb, questioning their mental state and intentions. The UP CM said that only a mentally disturbed person could consider Aurangzeb an ideal figure.

A Mumbai court has cautioned Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi to exercise restraint during interviews as any "irresponsible" statement by a senior politician like him can spark riots. While granting anticipatory bail to Azmi on Tuesday, Additional Sessions Judge VG Raghuwanshi schooled the SP MLA to exercise restraint, reported PTI.

“Before parting with the order I would like to caution the applicant (Azmi) to exercise restraint on himself while giving interviews, having regard to prevailing circumstances. Any irresponsible statement can flare riots and create law and order problems,” the court said.