Aurangzeb’s tomb is ASI-protected monument but won’t tolerate his glorification: Fadnavis

RSS reiterates no need to remove Aurangazeb's tomb; Maharashtra CM dismisses demands, warns against glorification, detains man for offensive comments.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday reiterated that there was no need for right-wing outfits to demand the removal of Aurangazeb’s tomb.

Speaking to journalists in Nagpur, senior RSS leader Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji‘ Joshi said, “It is unnecessary to discuss Aurangzeb and his tomb in today’s time; this topic is being raised unnecessarily. It is normal that when he died here, his tomb was built here. People who have faith and who like to visit, can go and visit; no one can stop them. We have Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s role model; he had built the tomb of Afzal Khan. This is a symbol of India’s generosity and inclusiveness.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Monday, dismissed the demands for the removal of the tomb from Khuldabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district and noted that the tomb was an Archeological Survey of India’s (ASI) protected monument. However, he said he would not allow any kind of glorification of Aurangzeb.

Speaking to journalists in Nagpur, he said, “Whether we like Aurangzeb or not, the fact is that his tomb is a protected ASI monument. However, we would not allow anyone who glorifies Aurangzeb at any cost. But the structures that are outside the purview of the law should be removed.”

Mr. Fadnavis was responding to questions on Maharashtra Navanirman Sena chief (MNS) Raj Thackeray’s statement slamming RSS-affliated groups for communalising the matter of a long-dead Mughal emperor.

Speaking at a public rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa on Sunday, Mr. Raj Thackeray disapproved of the politics over the demands to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb. “Aurangzeb’s tomb depicts how the Mughal emperor, despite a mighty army, failed and was finally buried in the land of Maharashtra. Aurangzeb spent 27 years in Maharashtra fighting the Marathas. He wanted to defeat and wipe out Chhatrapati Shivaji’s legacy. Even after Shivaji Maharaj’s passing away, Aurangzeb continued to live in Maharashtra. The Mughal emperor wanted to kill a thought called ‘Shivaji” and he failed and died here. I urge people, especially the youth, to please read history books from the right perspective and only those books that are authored by historians and not that come on WhatsApp forwards that has been diverting you and misleading you (youth). History should not be viewed from the prism of caste and religion,” he said.

“Remember that Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, was buried near the Pratapgadh Fort and it couldn’t have been done without Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s permission,” the MNS chief added.