'Not cruel': SP MLA sparks furore for comment on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb

Mumbai: Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s praise by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi that he was a “not a cruel administrator” has snowballed into major political controversy in Maharashtra. 

Azmi’s comments came on the inaugural day of the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature in Mumbai leading to condemnation from leaders of both sides, government and opposition.

The comment comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government would not tolerate insults of India's national icons. 

“I don’t take the arguments that Aurangzeb was a cruel administrator…on the contrary he was an able administrator,” said Azmi, the MLA from Shivajinagar-Mankhurd in Mumbai, who is the President of SP’s Maharashtra unit. 

“The government wants to destroy the country by creating only Hindu-Muslim divide in the country,” he said, hitting out at the BJP-led NDA dispensation at the Centre and the MahaYuti-NDA government in Maharashtra. 

"All the wrong history is being shown. Aurangzeb built many temples...Aurangzeb is not a cruel leader…when he was the Mughal emperor, the empire was spread from Afghanistan to Burma…the country was known as ‘sone ke chidiya’ during his regime…there were several Hindu commanders and soldiers in Aurangzeb’s army…the fight between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was not religion,” the four-time MLA said. 

Reacting to it, Shiv Sena chief leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that  Azmi should be booked for treason. “Those who have seen Chhava would know how cruel Aurangzeb was…40 says, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was tortured and killed. During his regime, several Hindu temples were brought down…atrocities were committed on mothers and sisters…he was a maha paapi,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said: “Azmi has made such a statement after taking supari (contract).” 

BJP legislator Ram Kadam said that Azmi needs to be given history books.