The demands to remove Mughal emperor Aurangazeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has won the support of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said he too favours the removal of the structure.
However, Fadnavis pointed out that there are legal constraints, saying the historical site is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India.
It was BJP Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Chhatraparti Shivaji Maharaj, who first called for the removal of the Mughal emperor's tomb.
Responding to Bhosale, the Maharashtra CM said, "We also believe the same but you need to do it within the framework of law as it's a protected monument." Fadnavis said it was the previous Congress government that brought the tomb under ASI protection.
The issue sparked controversy after Samajwadi Party MLA from Maharashtra, Abu Azmi, praised Aurangazeb and claimed that he has built several temples. Following this, he was suspended from the Maharashtra assembly for rest of the budget session that concludes on March 26.
Aurangazeb's tomb came to the limelight after Vicky Kaushal movie Chhaava portrayed the capitivity and execution of Shivaji's son Sambhaji Maharaj.
Calling the portrayal of Aurangazeb a misrepresentation of history, Azmi claimed that he was not a cruel ruler. "Wrong history is being shown. Aurangazeb built many temples... The battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangazeb was about state administration and not a religious conflict between Hindus and Muslims."
This comes after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Akbar and Aurangazeb are not national icons, saying true national heroes are Maharana Pratap, Veer Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh.
He went on to say that the mindset of Akbar and Aurangazeb towards Hindus was the same and they conspire agaisnt India's eternal traditions.
