In a significant political development, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the entire session, following a contentious remark he made praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The suspension proposal was presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday, at the start of the Assembly’s proceedings.
The Controversial Remarks
The controversy erupted earlier this week when Azmi, during an interaction with the media, defended Aurangzeb, asserting that the historical narrative about the emperor had been distorted. According to Azmi, Aurangzeb was not as cruel as often depicted and claimed that the Mughal ruler had “built many temples” during his reign. He argued that the narrative about him being anti-Hindu was inaccurate, stating that Aurangzeb ruled for over 50 years with Hindu advisors.
Azmi’s statements didn’t end there. He pointed out that if Aurangzeb had been forcefully converting Hindus, the number of conversions would have been far higher. He also mentioned that Aurangzeb destroyed both mosques and temples, a comment that added fuel to the fire. Azmi concluded by emphasizing that history should be free of religious biases and that the country should be governed by its Constitution, not by religious narratives.
Political Fallout
Azmi’s remarks ignited widespread outrage across political circles. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the statements as “wrong and unacceptable.” He further claimed that calling Aurangzeb a “good ruler” was an offense, accusing him of being responsible for the “brutal 40-day torture” of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shinde demanded that Azmi apologize for his comments and suggested he should be charged with treason.
Shiv Sena’s Response and Call for Action
The Shiv Sena party quickly voiced its disapproval, announcing a statewide protest. They strongly condemned Azmi’s praise for Aurangzeb, describing it as disrespectful to the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Shiv Sena leaders called for Azmi to face a sedition charge, and they urged his immediate suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly. The party also warned that they would intensify their agitation if swift action was not taken.
BJP and Other Opposition Demand Suspension
The political uproar gained momentum as BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar joined the chorus, demanding that Azmi be suspended from the Assembly for the entire session, citing the disrespect towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Members from BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed their support for Azmi’s suspension.
On Wednesday, following the political storm, Minister Chandrakant Patil moved the proposal to suspend Azmi. After deliberations, the suspension was confirmed, ensuring that Azmi would remain excluded from the rest of the budget session.
