Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske files complaint against Abu Azmi for praising Aurangzeb

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has filed a case against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi at Wagle Estate Police Station for allegedly making remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, which he claims hurt religious sentiments, reported ANI.

“A sedition case should be filed against Abu Azmi. He has no right to stay in India. Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of Hindu temples, tortured women, brutally tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was against the country, he looted our country...our leader Eknath Shinde has demanded this morning itself that a sedition case should be filed against him. Today we have come here to file a sedition case against him,” Mhaske told ANI.

Following this development, a Zero FIR against SP MLA Abu Azmi was registered in Naupada PS of Thane and was transferred to Marine Drive PS in Mumbai.

What did Abu Azmi say?

The SP MLA reportedly praised Aurangzeb, claiming he was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He mentioned that the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj battle was for state administration and not for Hindus and Muslims.

Abu Azmi receives flak

His remarks drew immense criticism from the opposition “wrong and unacceptable” and that he should be charged with "treason."

"His statement is wrong and should be condemned. Aurangzeb tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days; calling such a person good is the biggest sin, and hence, Abu Azmi should apologise. Our CM has taken this matter seriously. He should be charged with treason," Shinde told ANI.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC asked Azmi to take a history lesson and reminded that Aurangzeb destroyed thousands of Hindu temples.

“Abu Azmi should take a history lesson. He seems to have forgotten that it is the same Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of Hindu temples, including the Trimbakeshwar temple and the temple next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. He also ordered the destruction of the Jagannath temple... So please, Abu Azmi, stop doing your petty vote bank politics, you are hurting the sentiments of Hindus with this ignorant statement,” the report quoted Shaina.

Abu Azmi defends his remarks

Following the backlash, Abu Azmi defended his statement and claimed that Aurangzeb destroyed Mosques along with temples.

"If Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Alaih had destroyed temples, he also destroyed mosques. Had he been against Hindus, 34 per cent of Hindus would not have been with him (in his administration), and his advisors would not have been Hindus. It is true that India was a golden sparrow during his rule. There is no need to give Hindu-Muslim angles to it," the report quoted Azmi.

He emphasised that there was no link between power and religion in the earlier days.

"The kings back then used to struggle for power and property, but it was nothing religious. He (Aurangzeb) ruled for 52 years, and if he was really converting Hindus into Muslims - imagine the number of Hindus that would have converted. In the 1857 rebellion, when Mangal Pandey started the fight, it was Bahadur Shah Zafar who supported him," Azmi said.

"This country will run by the constitution, and I haven't said a word against Hindu brothers," he added.

BJP reacts

Meanwhile, BJP leader N Ramchander Rao criticised the SP leader for his remarks about the Mughal ruler.

"Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi who glorified Aurangzeb and said that the country has developed during his time and that he has built many temples. It is nothing but distortion of history. Everyone knows that in history, how Aurangzeb harassed the Hindu rulers, how he killed them, and how conversions were made and many temples were destroyed, Rao told ANI.

“However, now the question is whether Aurangzeb has to be glorified at this point of time...but his statement is definitely misleading and moreover, it is hurting the sentiments of the majority Hindus...action needs to be taken against him,” he added.