Fadnavis on Aurangzeb: 'Grave should be removed but...'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Global Wealth Summit.

Maharashtra Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that many want that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave should be removed from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar formerly Aurangabad. He, however, said that the grave is a protected monument under Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and can only be removed after following the law.

Fadnavis on Saturday was responding  to BJP's Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Bhosale sought the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

“We all believe the same but something needs to be done by law as it is a protected monument. The previous Congress government has got it protected under the ASI,” the chief minister said on the sidelines of ‘Gurmat Samagam’ to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur, ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion.

Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra MLA Abu Asim Azmi's remarks eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb recently kicked up a row. He was last week suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till the end of the budget session on March 26 over his remarks praising Aurangzeb.

The grave of Aurangzeb has reportedly  become a political issue in Maharashtra ever since the release of the Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Chhaava’ that depicts the capture and execution of Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently said that Mughal kings Akbar and Aurangzeb are not national icons.

During the event held at the Maharana Pratap Stadium in the NTPC complex, Yogi paid tribute to Maharana Pratap’s unmatched dedication to self-respect, faith, and the nation, calling him a “true national hero.” “Instead of surrendering for power, he chose self-respect,” the UP CM said, adding that India’s true heroes are Maharana Pratap, Veer Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh.

“Akbar can never be a hero. Whether it was Akbar or Aurangzeb, their mindset towards Hindus was the same and they conspired against India’s eternal traditions,” Yogi added and said that those who “do not respect these great leaders suffer from a distorted mindset and need correction”.