Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Even as the demand for removal of Moghul emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb on the outskirts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has turned into an agitation, the remarks by the Maharashtra Congress president Harshawardhan Sapkal against the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis likening him with Aurangzeb has further fuelled the controversy.
While the state Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have threatened to do “karseva” to demolish Aurangzeb’s tomb if the government did not remove it, a new row has erupted after Mr Sapkal commented that Mr Fadnavis was just as “cruel” as the Moghul emperor was and there were also lot of other similarities between the two.
“Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler. Aurangzeb put his own father in jail. Also, Aurangzeb always took the help of religion,” Sapkal said. “Today, Devendra Fadnavis is equally cruel. He always takes the help of religion. Therefore, the administration of Aurangzeb and Devendra Fadnavis is the same,” the Congress leader added.
The BJP hit back at the Congress, alleging insult to the identity of Maharashtra and that his remarks were “extremely childish.” “The remarks of Mr Sapkal is extremely childish and irresponsible and tarnishes the political culture of Maharashtra. By comparing Aurangzeb with Devendraji Fadnavis, Congress is insulting the identity of Maharashtra. Sapkal and Congress have reached a low level,” state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said.
Mr Fadnavis also further fuelled the controversy by issuing a warning on Monday that his government would not tolerate glorification of Aurangzeb. Mr Fadnavis used the inauguration of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj temple in Bhiwandi to make the strong statement against the glorification of Aurangzeb’s tomb. He also questioned the need to preserve the tomb of a ruler responsible for the suffering of thousands, stating that Maharashtra should instead honour the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Expressing his displeasure over the situation, he remarked that it was unfortunate for both the state and Central governments to bear the responsibility of maintaining Aurangzeb’s tomb. Fadnavis further assured the people of Maharashtra that any attempt to glorify Aurangzeb would be firmly opposed and crushed.
The chief minister’s statement aided the widespread protests across the state, with Hindu organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, intensifying their demand for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, earlier known as Aurangabad.
Demonstrators in Kolhapur staged a symbolic protest by carrying a mock tomb in a tempo and destroying it with hammers, sending a strong message against the historical figure’s remembrance. The agitation soon escalated into a confrontation with the police, who intervened and confiscated the vehicle carrying the symbolic tomb. Addressing the media, Bajrang Dal district president Kundan Patil questioned why Aurangzeb’s tomb should be preserved, stating that if a symbolic tomb was unacceptable, then the real one had no place either.
In response to the growing unrest, security has been significantly tightened around Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad town, with police deploying additional personnel and setting up iron barricades at the site’s main entrance. Vehicle movement in certain areas has also been restricted to prevent any untoward incidents.
The VHP and Bajrang Dal have called for a ‘Karseva” urging people to come forward and support their demand for the tomb’s removal. The situation remains tense, with authorities closely monitoring developments to prevent further escalation.
The controversy has also triggered sharp political reactions, with leaders from different parties taking opposing stands. Congress leader Bhai Jagtap dismissed the demand for the tomb’s removal, arguing that Maharashtra should take pride in the fact that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj prevented Aurangzeb from ruling the region for 27 years. He criticised those using the issue for political gain. On the other hand, BJP leader Ram Kadam supported the protests, emphasising that glorifying a tyrannical ruler like Aurangzeb was unacceptable and that his tomb should be removed.
The controversy surrounding Aurangzeb erupted last month after Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi stated that the Mughal emperor was a capable administrator but had been misrepresented in history. His remarks sparked legal action, leading to police cases being filed against him. Anticipating potential arrest, he secured anticipatory bail from a Mumbai court.
With public sentiment rising and political parties taking firm positions, the issue continues to gain momentum, setting the stage for further debates and demonstrations in the coming days.
