The Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to stage statewide protest against Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi for praising Aurangzeb. The party alleged that Azmi disrespected Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in his statements and demanded that a sedition case be filed against SP MLA. They also demand suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly.
Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar MLA defended himself, saying that his statements were manipulated by Mahayuti leaders. "My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have said about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Alaih. I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any other great men—but still, if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement,” he added.
"This issue is being made a political issue, and I think that closing the budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly because of this is causing harm to the people of Maharashtra," said Azmi in a video shared on X.
Also Read | Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske Files Case Against Abu Azmi Over His Remarks on Aurangzeb.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde slammed the SP MLA in the Maharashtra assembly, calling his remarks 'disgraceful' and demanding an apology. Shinde stressed Aurangzeb's cruelty toward Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and labeled such statements as 'anti-national.'
Congress MP Tariq Anwar said that the unwanted issues were raised. "This is what you call a pointless debate. Genghis and his family members came 400 years ago, and all the details of their actions, including everyone's role, are recorded in the pages of history," Anwar stated.
Earlier, Azmi retracted his statement calling Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb a great administrator and called for the resumption of Assembly proceedings. "When I came out of the Assembly yesterday, the press asked me about a statement of Assam CM comparing Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb."
"I don't know how he was, I only know what many historians said. Many historians have hailed him. There has been no ban on their books. I just repeated what they said. I could never imagine insulting words against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Rajshri Shahuji Maharaj, but Prashant Koratkar, Rahul Solapurkar have spoken against, they have security, why this furore against my statement?... If my statement has hurt people, I take back my statement. I have never spoken bad against big persons. It would be injustice to Maharashtra people to stop the Assembly proceedings over this issue, I take back my statement, I want the matter to be rested," Azmi said.