Mumbai, Maharashtra (March 31, 2025): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday criticized efforts to stir communal unrest over Aurangzeb’s tomb and urged people to view history without the lens of caste and religion. Speaking at his annual Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park, Thackeray cautioned against relying on WhatsApp forwards for historical facts. He said the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted to "kill a thought called Shivaji" but failed and ultimately died in Maharashtra. He also said that Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, was buried near Pratapgad Fort, suggesting this would not have happened without Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s permission. His remarks came amid demands by right-wing groups for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The issue had sparked protests and violence in Nagpur earlier this month.
He urged people to study history from books rather than social media messages. The MNS chief warned against political distractions, saying pre- and post-Shivaji eras had different socio-political realities. Criticising religious polarization, he said Hindus should not derive their identity only when Muslims take to the streets or during riots. Thackeray also referenced the recently released period film Chhaava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He questioned whether people needed actors like Vicky Kaushal or Akshaye Khanna to learn about historical figures. He also pointed out that Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat. He accused some politicians of using history for selfish motives. The MNS chief said a country cannot progress on the basis of religion and cited Turkey as an example of reform.
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"Don't we want to tell the world that these people tried to destroy the Marathas but were wiped out instead? Stop reading history on WhatsApp. Read history books," he said. "We have forgotten the real issues of today. Hindus who feel awakened after a movie are of no use. Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharaj's sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and about Aurangzeb because of Akshaye Khanna?" he asked. "Religion should remain within the four walls of your home. A Hindu identifies as a Hindu only when Muslims take to the streets or during riots. Otherwise, Hindus are divided by caste," he said.
Shifting focus to governance, he claimed that the BJP-led government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme would be scrapped. Opposition parties have accused the ruling coalition of failing to increase financial aid under the scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 as promised in their election manifesto. Thackeray reiterated his party’s stance on making Marathi mandatory for official use. He warned that those who refuse to speak the language despite living in Maharashtra would be “dealt with appropriately.”
Addressing environmental concerns, he condemned river pollution in the name of religion. Showing a video that allegedly depicted bodies being dumped into the Ganga, he questioned whether such practices aligned with religious values. He said Rs 33,000 crore had been spent on cleaning the river but with little success. Thackeray said Maharashtra’s rivers are heavily polluted, noting that 55 of the 311 most contaminated river patches in India are in the state. He warned that four of Mumbai’s five rivers have already perished, with the last surviving one, the Mithi River, on the verge of destruction due to sewage, encroachments, and chemical waste.