SP MLA Abu Azmi suspended from Maharashtra Assembly Budget Session for controversial remarks on Aurangzeb

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire Budget Session of Maharashtra Assembky over his controversial remarks related to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The SP leader was suspended after a motion was passed against him in the House by Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil.

The Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar MLA is receiving severe criticism for his recent remarks related to Aurangzeb where he said that the Mughal emperor was not “cruel administrator” and claimed that he built “many temples”, reported ANI.

The SP leader also added that the battle between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim.

Akhilesh Yadav condemns Abu Azmi's suspension from Maharashtra budget session

Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday criticised the suspension of Maharashtra SP MLA Abu Azmi. In a social media post, Akhilesh Yadav questioned the grounds of Azmi's suspension.

“If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will there be between freedom of expression and subjection? Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched,” read a post by Akhilesh Yadav in Hindi.

Abu Azmi gives clarification over Aurangzeb remark

Amid widespread criticisim over his remark, Abu Azmi made it clear that he didn't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments with his remarks.

"My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have claimed about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Ali," Azmi said adding that the situation has been politicised.

"I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any other great men - but still if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement," Azmi said in a video on his X.

Earlier, a zero FIR was filed against Azmi in the Naupada Police Station of Thane which was transferred to the Marine Drive police station in Mumbai.