SP MLA eulogises Aurangzeb, sparks bedlam in Maharashtra House | India News – The Times of India

MUMBAI: Soon after food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde resigned on Tuesday morning, the issue of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi’s remarks eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb rocked both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature, resulting in proceedings being called off for the day.
While BJP and Shiv Sena demanded that Azmi be suspended and charged with treason, opposition said the issue was raked up by the governing parties to divert attention from Munde’s exit.
Outside, Wagle Estate police and Naupada police in Thane registered FIRs against Azmi for hurting religious sentiments and defamation under the BNS, even as the MLA from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar issued a statement saying his remarks in context of the film ‘Chhava’, which depicts the conflict between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb, have been misrepresented. “Regarding Aurangzeb, I have only stated what historians and writers have mentioned. I have not made any derogatory comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any other great personalities. Wrong history is being shown (in film). However, if my statements have hurt anyone, I retract my words and statements.”
He added: “This issue is being turned into a political matter, and I believe that closing the assembly’s budget session because of this is a disservice to the people of Maharashtra.” Later, in a clip circulated by his office, he said he had no intention to insult anyone, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Dr B R Ambedkar or Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. “I have huge respect for them…,” he said.
On Monday, during an interview, Azmi reportedly said Aurangzeb should not be viewed simply as a cruel ruler, but rather as a great administrator who also built temples. He had also said that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (now Myanmar). “Also, I do not believe that the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was not about religion; it was a political battle.”
Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde said, “Azmi is a traitor and has no right to sit in the assembly. He has always been insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj.” Sena (UBT)’s Aaditya Thackeray said: “Whenever BJP is in trouble, it takes Azmi’s help. He’s their puppet. He must be suspended. But former governor BS Koshyari also insulted our icons, so action must be taken against him too…”
(Inputs from Clara Lewis, Chaitanya Marpakwar, Somit Sen & Nishikant Karlikar)