THANE: A case has been registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi at Wagle Estate Police Station following a complaint by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske over his controversial remarks on Aurangzeb, police said on Tuesday.
The case has been filed under BNS sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2).
Mhaske alleged that Azmi’s remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb have hurt religious sentiments. He further demanded that a sedition case be filed against Azmi, stating, “He has no right to stay in India. Aurangzeb, who destroyed thousands of Hindu temples, tortured women, and brutally persecuted Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was against the country and looted our nation.”
Mhaske emphasized that Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde had also called for a sedition case against Azmi . “We are here to ensure legal action is taken,” he added.
How SP MLA Abu Azmi sparks controversy over Aurangzeb remarks
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi stirred controversy on Monday by stating that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was not a cruel ruler. Azmi, who represents the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly seat, claimed that history had been misrepresented.
“Wrong history is being shown. Aurangzeb built many temples. I do not consider him a cruel ruler. Also, the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was for state administration…not between Hindus and Muslims,” Azmi said.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske, who condemned his statements and demanded that he be charged with sedition. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena workers gathered at Wagle Estate police station in Thane, calling for immediate action against Azmi.
Azmi made these remarks while criticizing the “inaccurate” depiction of history in the Bollywood movie Chhava. He argued that Aurangzeb should not be seen merely as a cruel ruler but rather as a great administrator.
“I believe that during the time of Aurangzeb, India’s border was up to Afghanistan. At that time, our GDP was 24% of global GDP…India was called a golden bird…Also, I do not believe that the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was about religion,” he said.