Activists from the Patit Pavan Sanghathana staged a protest in Pune on Sunday against the glorification of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. However, the demonstration took an unexpected turn when protesters mistakenly burned a photograph of Bahadur Shah Zafar instead of Aurangzeb.
The protest took place at Lal Mahal Chowk, where activists chanted slogans against Aurangzeb and condemned those who praise him. They garlanded Zafar’s image with shoes and set it on fire, believing it to be Aurangzeb. Photos and videos of the incident quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread criticism.
Many questioned the organizers' lack of historical knowledge and criticized the poor planning of the protest. Some defended the activists, calling it an unintentional error. Patit Pavan Sanghathana has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The controversy over Aurangzeb has been escalating in Maharashtra. After MLA Abu Azmi made remarks seen as praising Aurangzeb, several organizations voiced strong opposition. Protests have erupted in various parts of the state, demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb's grave in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.