‘Remove Aurangzeb’s Grave, But Call Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar Too’: Uddhav Thackeray’s Dig At BJP
Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray questioned the 'double-engine' BJP government demanding its resignation after violence erupted in Nagpur over demands to relocate Aurangzeb's grave.
Amid arson and vandalism in Maharashtra’s Nagpur over demands to raze Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday questioned the need for such a confrontation, highlighting that the controversial ruler had died over 300 years ago.
“I am not the Chief Minister, nor am I the Home Minister, ask the Chief Minister who is behind this (violence). Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here; if the double-engine government has failed, then they should resign,” Uddhav Thackeray told news agency ANI.
Thackeray also took a swipe at the BJP, pointing out that Aurangzeb was born in Gujarat, saying, “The irony is that he was born in Gujarat in 1618 in Dahod and died near Bhingar, Maharashtra, in 1707. He could not even Agra.”
“You are digging up a 400-year-old issue. If you want, you can remove his grave... but call Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar,” Thackeray quipped, referring to the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar Chief Ministers, both key BJP allies. His remark has been interpreted in the context of the Muslim population in their respective states and the importance of their votes to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU), particularly with elections approaching in Bihar next year.
“Why are they doing this drama? The kind of bulldozers they are using in Uttar Pradesh, they can use it here,” he added.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On Nagpur violence, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says, "I am not the Chief Minister, nor am I the Home Minister, ask the Chief Minister who is behind this (violence). Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here; if… pic.twitter.com/VUTg58l7E9
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025
Echoing his father’s criticism, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the BJP of using the controversy to divert attention from governance failures.
“The BJP is shameless about it when it happened in the hometown of the CM. Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern, they resort to violence, riots, this is their set formula in every state. If you look at Manipur, that is what they want to convert Maharashtra to; today, no investment, no tourists go to Manipur; this is what they want for Maharashtra. They are trying to dig up the history of someone who lived over 300-400 years ago, but they cannot speak about the future and the present,” he told news agency PTI.
Aaditya Thackeray also noted that Aurangzeb’s grave is a protected historical site under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), remarking, “The irony is the grave is protected by the central government, which belongs to Mr Modi. If CM Fadnavis has the courage, he should visit Mr. Modi and ask for him to remove the grave. The issue is over.”
VIDEO | On Nagpur violence, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) says, "The BJP is shameless about it when it happened in the hometown of the CM. Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern, they resort to violence, riots, this is their set formula in every state, if you… pic.twitter.com/Jo9uFn24va
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 18, 2025
Aaditya stressed that the BJP is trying to "hide misgovernance" in Maharashtra and other national issues by "going back" to Aurangzeb.
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Claims “Pre-Planned Pattern” Behind Nagpur Violence
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing the legislative assembly, asserted that the violence in Nagpur appeared to be premeditated, with mobs targeting specific houses. He attributed the renewed public anger against Aurangzeb to the recently released film Chhaava, which portrays the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“The film has brought before the people the true history of the Maratha king. Chhatrapati Sambhaji was tortured and killed by Aurangzeb. After that (the movie), people’s emotions have been reignited. The anger against Aurangzeb is being exhibited in a big way,” Fadnavis said, as quoted by PTI.
A curfew has been imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur following Monday’s violent protests demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. Several houses and vehicles were vandalised. Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, revealed that 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), were injured in the violence, with one senior officer attacked with an axe.
“Those who have attacked the police will not be spared,” he asserted, adding that evidence suggests a “pre-planned pattern” behind the attacks. “There appears to be a pre-planned pattern of some people. Action will certainly be taken against them, and whoever has attacked police personnel will not be spared. Normalcy is being restored,” he said.
‘Pre-Planned Conspiracy To Target Specific Community’: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde On Nagpur Violence
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed similar sentiments, stating that there was a conspiracy to target a particular community. “How does a mob of 2,000 to 5,000 people gather at 8 pm in the evening? Huge stones were hurled inside people’s residences. A hospital was ransacked. Photos of deities were burnt in the hospital. Where did petrol bombs come from? Petrol bombs were hurled, cars and motorbikes were torched. 100-150 bikes were parked in a specific area and were not there the previous day. This means this was a pre-planned conspiracy to target a specific community,” Shinde alleged, as per PTI.
According to Fadnavis, tensions escalated after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists staged a protest in Nagpur’s Mahal area at 11:30 am on Monday, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. They also created a symbolic grave with hay and set it on fire. A case was registered against the activists at Ganesh Peth police station under charges of “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”
By evening, a rumour spread that the symbolic grave that was set on fire contained religious text, triggering protests from 200-300 people who raised slogans and threatened violence. Police resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd. As tensions flared, another group of masked individuals engaged in stone-pelting in Hansapuri, attacking people with sharp weapons. Later in the evening, a separate group of 80-100 people attacked police personnel in Bhaldarpura, prompting the use of tear gas. A crane and two JCB machines were set ablaze.
Fadnavis said three cases were registered at Ganesh Peth police station, and two more were being filed at Tehsil police station. “A trolley full of stones was recovered. We found that some people had collected stones. There was arson, and vehicles were set on fire. Some houses and establishments were targeted in a premeditated way,” he said.
The Director General of Police (DGP) held a video conference with the Nagpur Police Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to ensure law and order.
BJP MLA Pravin Datke, who represents Nagpur Central, claimed that Hindus were specifically targeted. “Hindus and Muslims have been living peacefully in the Chitnis Park area for several decades. This violence was pre-planned. Homes and shops of a particular community (Hindu) were targeted, while those belonging to Muslims were not,” he alleged.
The state government has vowed to take strict action against those responsible for the violence.
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