Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi suspended from Maharashtra assembly for remarks praising Aurangzeb

Mumbai: In a significant development, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was suspended by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

According to the legislators, by praising Aurangzeb, Azmi had demeaned legendary Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji and his warrior-son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

The three-day-long controversy also echoed in Uttar Pradesh where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the SP even as his predecessor and SP chief hit out at the BJP.

Azmi was suspended till the remainder of the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature, which would end on 26 March.

Azmi, the MLA from Mankhurd Shivajinagar in Mumbai, was not present in the Assembly as he was not keeping well.

After his suspension, Azmi, in a video statement said that his suspension is injustice not just to him but to millions of people whom he represents. “It is gross injustice to me,” he said.

Azmi said that he has not said anything inside the House but made a certain statement outside.

He also added that he would approach Speaker Rahul Narwekar and if needed would knock on the doors of courts.

“I would like to ask the Maharashtra government whether two types of laws are followed in the state? One different law for Abu Asim Azmi? On the other hand, one different law for Prashant Koratkar and Rahul Sholapurkar?,” he said, referring to the statements made by them against Shivaji Maharaj.

“Whatever I said about Aurangzeb has been stated by historians and writers. I did not insult Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any national icons. However, if anyone was hurt by my remarks, I take them back,” he added.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil moved the motion of suspension in the House, which was passed by a voice vote.

Members of the treasury benches said Aurangzeb’s praise amounted to insult of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

“Azmi’s comments praising Aurangzeb and criticising Sambhaji Maharaj do not suit the stature of a member of the assembly and are an insult to the democratic institution of the legislative assembly,” Patil said.

Akhilesh Yadav criticise suspension

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the decision of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly of suspending Azmi.

In a post on X, he said: “If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and slavery.” Defending Azmi, he added: “Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by 'suspension' one can put a rein on the tongue of truth, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking. Today's free thinking says, "we don't want BJP!.”

Send him to UP, we will do his treatment: Yogi

Slamming Azmi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP’s icon Yogi Adityanath said: “I want to tell Samajwadi Party leaders that they believe in the thoughts of the person in whose name you do politics. Today, the Samajwadi Party is moving away from the principles of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. They have made Aurangzeb their ideal….Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will do his treatment….The person who feels ashamed about the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, instead of taking pride and considers Aurangzeb as his idol, does he have the right to stay in our country?”

Adityanath added, “On one hand, you keep blaming Mahakumbh; on the other hand, you praise a person like Aurangzeb, who destroyed the temples of the country. Why can't you control that MLA of yours? Why didn't you condemn his statement?"