<p>Huge resentment has been building up in Aurangabad over its renaming as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leading protests in the historic city.</p>.<p>During the protests over the weekend, some people also waved posters of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb - which has not gone down well. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/now-aurangabad-renamed-sambhajinagar-osmanabad-is-dharashiv-1194655.html" target="_blank">Now, Aurangabad renamed Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad is Dharashiv</a></strong></p>.<p>The historic town of Aurangabad is located in the headquarters of Marathwada region of Maharashtra.</p>.<p>The Aurangabad district is also the tourism capital of the state with UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora and mediaeval structures like Bibi ka Maqbara.</p>.<p>The name Aurangabad comes from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. However, there had been a popular demand to rename the city and district as Sambhajinagar after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. </p>.<p>Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally murdered at the behest of Aurangzeb.</p>.<p>The AIMIM protests are being led by Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel. </p>.<p>“Aurangabad is, was and will always be our city,” Jaleel says in his meetings. </p>.<p>The Maratha Kranti Morcha has threatened to lodge a complaint against Jaleel for holding a protest rally against the renaming of Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Shirshat, who is close to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has lashed out at Jaleel. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/mva-plans-to-hold-joint-rallies-across-maharashtra-1197386.html" target="_blank">MVA plans to hold joint rallies across Maharashtra</a></strong></p>.<p>“If they have so much love for Aurangzeb, then shift his grave to Hyderabad. Let them build a memorial there or do whatever they want, none actually bothers, but stop this agitation,” he said.</p>.<p>Last month, the Centre okayed the Maharashtra government’s proposal to rename Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv.</p>.<p>It is an ancient city and it has been known by various names over the years, decades and centuries</p>.<p>It has seen the influence and rule of various dynasties – Satavahana, Vakataka, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, Yadav, Khilji, Tuglaq, Bahmani Sultanate, Nizam Shahi, Deccan Sultans under Mughals and Hyderabad Nizams and Marathas and Britishers.</p>.<p>The strategic location of Aurangabad as an entry point in ancient Dakshinapatha was the main reason why the region witnessed the rise and fall of so many dynasties.</p>
<p>Huge resentment has been building up in Aurangabad over its renaming as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leading protests in the historic city.</p>.<p>During the protests over the weekend, some people also waved posters of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb - which has not gone down well. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/now-aurangabad-renamed-sambhajinagar-osmanabad-is-dharashiv-1194655.html" target="_blank">Now, Aurangabad renamed Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad is Dharashiv</a></strong></p>.<p>The historic town of Aurangabad is located in the headquarters of Marathwada region of Maharashtra.</p>.<p>The Aurangabad district is also the tourism capital of the state with UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora and mediaeval structures like Bibi ka Maqbara.</p>.<p>The name Aurangabad comes from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. However, there had been a popular demand to rename the city and district as Sambhajinagar after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. </p>.<p>Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally murdered at the behest of Aurangzeb.</p>.<p>The AIMIM protests are being led by Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel. </p>.<p>“Aurangabad is, was and will always be our city,” Jaleel says in his meetings. </p>.<p>The Maratha Kranti Morcha has threatened to lodge a complaint against Jaleel for holding a protest rally against the renaming of Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Shirshat, who is close to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has lashed out at Jaleel. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/mva-plans-to-hold-joint-rallies-across-maharashtra-1197386.html" target="_blank">MVA plans to hold joint rallies across Maharashtra</a></strong></p>.<p>“If they have so much love for Aurangzeb, then shift his grave to Hyderabad. Let them build a memorial there or do whatever they want, none actually bothers, but stop this agitation,” he said.</p>.<p>Last month, the Centre okayed the Maharashtra government’s proposal to rename Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv.</p>.<p>It is an ancient city and it has been known by various names over the years, decades and centuries</p>.<p>It has seen the influence and rule of various dynasties – Satavahana, Vakataka, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, Yadav, Khilji, Tuglaq, Bahmani Sultanate, Nizam Shahi, Deccan Sultans under Mughals and Hyderabad Nizams and Marathas and Britishers.</p>.<p>The strategic location of Aurangabad as an entry point in ancient Dakshinapatha was the main reason why the region witnessed the rise and fall of so many dynasties.</p>
