Abu Azmi defiant after FIR over remarks: 'Had Aurangzeb been anti-Hindu...'

Samajwadi Party leader and four-time Maharashtra MLA Abu Asim Azmi has come out in praise for Mughal emperor Aurangzeb once again and claimed that Hindus would never have supported or served as his advisors had the ruler been anti-Hindu.

"Aurangzeb ruled for 52 years, and if he was truly converting Hindus to Islam, imagine how many would have converted. If he demolished temples, he also demolished mosques. If he was against Hindus, 34% of his allies and advisors wouldn’t have been Hindus," Azmi said speaking to reporters after two FIRs were registered against him for his earlier praise of the Mughal emperor.

Two separate FIRs have been registered in Maharashtra against Azmi. While one complaint was filed in Mumbai by Shiv Sena spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar, an FIR was registered against the Mankhurd Shivajinagar MLA in Thane based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske. The FIR came after Shiv Sena supremo and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde slammed Azmi for his remarks and demanded that a case be filed against the SP leader for treason.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On his statement regarding Aurangzeb, Samajwadi Party leader and Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi says, "The kings back then used to have struggle for power and property, but it was nothing religious. He (Aurangzeb) ruled for 52 years, and if he was really converting pic.twitter.com/ZViKowZH2J
ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2025

Controversy broke out amid discussions on the film Chhava when Abu Azmi, in conversation with the media, referred to Aurangzeb as a just ruler. He claimed that India came to be known as 'Sone ki Chidiya' during Aurangzeb’s reign and that he did not consider him to be a cruel ruler.

"The conflicts during Aurangzeb's time were political, not religious or Hindu-Muslim battles. Aurangzeb oversaw the construction of several Hindu temples," Azmi said and accused historians of misrepresenting the Mughal-era ruler.

Azmi's remarks have triggered a massive political row in Maharashtra with leaders of the ruling Mahayuti creating an uproar in the state Assembly on Tuesday demanding an apology from the SP leader.

Aurangzeb was the sixth and longest-ruling emperor of the Mughal empire. He was the son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and ascended the throne after imprisoning his father. His reign lasted nearly 50 years (1658–1707) and was marked by the empire's expansion, strict religious policies, and military campaigns in southern India.