Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis endorsed calls to remove Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khulabad but emphasized that it must be done legally, as the site is currently protected by the Archaeological Society of India due to the previous Congress government’s actions. This stance follows BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale’s demand for the tomb’s demolition, criticizing Aurangzeb as a “thief.” The controversy intensified after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb, calling him a misunderstood administrator, which led to his suspension from the assembly and criticism from various quarters, including Fadnavis. Aurangzeb, who died in 1707, expressed a wish for a simple burial in Khuldabad.
New Delhi:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed support today for the demand to remove the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Khulabad, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. However, he emphasized that such an action must be carried out within the boundaries of the law, as the previous Congress government had protected the tomb by transferring its oversight to the Archaeological Society of India (ASI).
“We all desire the same outcome, but it must be accomplished legally because it is a protected site. The site was designated as such during the Congress administration several years ago,” the Chief Minister commented.
Recently, BJP’s Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, called for the tomb’s demolition.
“What is the necessity… send in a JCB machine and demolish his grave… he was a thief and a lootera (robber),” he declared.
“Those who visit Aurangzeb’s tomb to pay their respects might as well take it home with them, but we will not tolerate any glorification of Aurangzeb any longer,” he added.
“Strict measures” should be taken against individuals making “false statements about Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj, Rajmata Jijau Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj,” he continued, which was perceived as a response to Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, who recently praised Aurangzeb.
On March 4, BJP leader Navneet Rana also called for the destruction of Aurangzeb’s grave. “I urge the Maharashtra government to consider that just as Aurangabad’s name was changed to honor our God Sambhaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb’s grave should also be demolished,” asserted the former BJP MP.
Controversy Over Abu Azmi’s Remarks
Last week, Abu Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly until the conclusion of the budget session due to his comments praising Aurangzeb. He referred to the Mughal emperor as a great administrator, claiming he was misrepresented in history.
“Aurangzeb constructed many temples. I do not view Aurangzeb as a cruel administrator. Additionally, the conflict between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was fundamentally about governance, rather than a Hindu versus Muslim issue,” he stated.
He noted that under Aurangzeb’s rule, India’s borders extended to Afghanistan, asserting, “At that time, our GDP was 24 percent… India was known as Sone Ki Chidiya (the Golden Bird),” he claimed.
However, his comments sparked widespread backlash, particularly following the emotional responses generated by the Vicky Kaushal film ‘Chhaava’, which depicted the struggles of Sambhaji Maharaj. Legal cases were initiated against him, and despite retracting his statement later, Chief Minister Fadnavis warned that he would be “100 percent incarcerated.”
The Tomb
Aurangzeb, who passed away in 1707 at the age of 87, is interred in Khuldabad, approximately 25 kilometers from Aurangabad, where his wife’s mausoleum, ‘Bibi ka maqbara,’ is situated.
In his will, Aurangzeb expressed a desire to be buried in Khuldabad, where his spiritual teacher, Sufi saint Syed Zainuddin, is also laid to rest. His tomb is located within the complex of Syed Zainuddin’s shrine. He specifically requested a simple, open-air burial.
Subsequently, the Nizam of Hyderabad installed a marble grill around the tomb at the request of Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India.