Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attacked Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for his statement and stated that he must be tried on charges of treason.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi has created a new political storm in Maharashtra by declaring that he does not consider 17th-century Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as an cruel, tyrant or intolerant ruler. He explained that a wrong picture of the Mughal Emperor is being built through films nowadays.
His comments invoked a sharp rebuttal from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who asked SP leader for his apology and should be put on trial for treason.
Wrong words are being spoken about Aurangzeb. He built many temples for Hindus. He even had one of his soldiers run over by elephants when he wanted to wed a Hindu priest’s daughter. In gratitude, they built a mosque for Muslims. History has been twisted,” Abu Azmi told the media in Mumbai on Monday.
When a reporter asked if he thought Aurangzeb was cruel, the SP MLA from Maharashtra’s Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency replied, “No. I don’t think so. Absolutely not”. Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted strongly to the SP legislator’s statement and slammed him for a “great sin” committed by him.
“Eulogising the same Aurangzeb who tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days, pulled out his nails, removed his eyes, skinned him, cut off his tongue is a huge sin. Abu Azmi should apologize for this,” a visibly incensed Shinde was quoted by news agency ANI. Shinde further stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious note of this issue, and called for Azmi to be tried for treason.
Abu Azmi spoke weeks after the release of the Vicky Kaushal-starring Chhava, a movie that was inspired by the life and times of 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was tortured and martyred by Mughal troops. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the movie features Vicky Kaushal as the titular Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, with Askhaye Khanna essaying the role of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
