The controversy surrounding Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi’s remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb intensified on Wednesday, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stepping into the debate.
He urged the Samajwadi Party to expel Azmi and send him to Uttar Pradesh, stating that the state knew well how to handle such individuals.
Adityanath strongly criticized Azmi for glorifying Aurangzeb while disregarding the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He questioned whether someone who admired Aurangzeb over a revered Indian ruler even had the right to live in the country.
The UP Chief Minister also challenged the Samajwadi Party to clarify its stance, asking why it had not distanced itself from Azmi’s statements.
Azmi had recently described Aurangzeb as a great administrator who contributed to India’s development and even built temples.
Though he later withdrew his remarks, they sparked backlash from the BJP and other political parties, who accused him of attempting to whitewash Aurangzeb’s legacy of oppression and forced conversions.
Addressing the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Adityanath condemned Azmi’s comments, linking them to what he saw as a broader issue within the Samajwadi Party.
He criticized the party for allegedly glorifying figures like Aurangzeb while opposing Hindu traditions. He called on the party to take a firm stand, either by making Azmi explain himself in public or by sending him to Uttar Pradesh, where, according to Adityanath, authorities would handle the matter appropriately.
The Chief Minister highlighted Aurangzeb’s historical actions, including the imprisonment of his own father, Shah Jahan, in Agra Fort.
He pointed out that Shah Jahan himself lamented in his writings that a Hindu son would have treated him with more respect than Aurangzeb did. Adityanath added that no civilised Muslim today names their child Aurangzeb, as the name carries a dark legacy.
The political row escalated further in Maharashtra when Abu Azmi was suspended from the state Assembly until the end of the ongoing Budget Session.
His suspension came after a motion moved by Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, who argued that Azmi’s remarks were inappropriate and an insult to the legislative institution.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde also lashed out at Azmi, calling him a "traitor" and stating that he had no right to sit in the Assembly.
Shinde emphasized that Aurangzeb was responsible for extreme cruelty, including the killing of Hindus and people from other religions.
Azmi, who represents the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai, defended himself in a video statement, claiming that his remarks were misinterpreted and were based on historical accounts. He condemned his suspension, arguing that it was unfair despite his retraction.
The controversy gained momentum as it coincided with the release of the film Chaava, which portrays the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his struggle against Aurangzeb.
Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji Maharaj, was brutally tortured and killed by the Mughal emperor’s forces, making Aurangzeb a deeply controversial figure in Indian history.
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