Hindu Outfits Threaten ‘Babri-Like’ Action If Aurangzeb’s Tomb Not Razed, To Protest Across Maharashtra
Workers of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal are set to hold protests across Maharashtra on Monday, demanding the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The workers of both organisations have also warned of a ‘Babri-like’ action if the Aurangzeb tomb is not razed.
To avoid any untoward incidents, the security around Aurangzeb’s tomb has been tightened. Teams of senior police officials have been deployed for 24/7 monitoring. The police have also set up security checkpoints with a strict vigilance on visitors.
Bajrang Dal and the VHP plan to submit a memorandum to the state government on Monday, urging legal action to remove the grave and have warned of ‘karseva‘ and statewide protests if the demand is not met.
Confirming the same, VHP State Minister of Maharashtra and Goa, Govindji Shende, while talking to reporters, said, “The movement will be carried out step by step, starting with public awareness initiatives. This includes protests, memorandums, effigy burning, meetings, and awareness programs. The final step will be the Chalo Sambhaji Nagar march…”
Meanwhile, commenting on the row, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he respected the sentiments of Marathas and opined that no one should support Aurangzeb.
“I respect the sentiments of Marathas, Aurangzeb tortured Sambhaji Maharaj. A true patriot should not glorify Aurangzeb. No one should support Aurangzeb,” he said.
“He was an enemy of Maharashtra, a traitor. Why do we need the remains of Aurangzeb in Maharashtra?,” Shinde asked.
Also commenting on the demands by the Hindu outfits, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said, “This is not about a party. It’s a historical thing… politicians should not interfere in this… Let experts make the decision. It is about history, and let the historians speak about it.”
On the contrary, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar alleged the Hindu outfits were left with nothing else to do.
“They (VHP and Bajrang Dal) are left with nothing else to do. They don’t want the people of Maharashtra to live peacefully. They want to slow the development pace of the state,” he alleged.
Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Satara MP, Udayanraje Bhosale, also a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had sought the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
On March 14, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut called the BJP rule in Maharashtra worse than that of Aurangzeb and claimed farmers were dying in the state because of the saffron party.
Earlier this month, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asmi Azmi was suspended from the state assembly till the end of its budget session on March 26 following his remarks eulogising Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb is remembered in Maharashtra for his battles with the Marathas, who resisted his expansionist ambitions. Shivaji Maharaj’s son, Sambhaji, was captured, tortured, and executed on his orders.
