Tensions rise in Maharashtra over demand to demolish Aurangzeb’s tomb

Local authorities bar Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote from entering district amid tensions over Aurangzeb's grave removal.

Amidst the rising tensions over the removal of the grave of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, situated at Khuldabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, local authorities on Sunday barred Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote from entering the district from March 16 to April 5. 

The order was issued on Saturday (March 15, 2025) by the Deputy Resident Collector’s office. “After the release of the film Chhaava, the views of many people on the Mughal emperor have turned extreme, as seen in social media posts. The district authorities have learnt through intelligence inputs that Mr. Ekbote’s organisation, Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Pratishthan, and his supporters, could be planning to reach Khuldabad to raze Aurangzeb’s tomb. Considering all the unrest, the district administration decided to prohibit the entry of Mr. Ekbote and his supporters into the limits of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar,” the office of the Collector said.

The district administration also said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal had planned agitations from March 17, seeking the removal of the tomb.

Mr. Ekbote in the past has been accused of instigating caste-based riots on January 1, 2018 in Bhima Koregaon in Pune district. He also took part in the agitation to raze down the tomb of Afzal Khan, situated in Pratapgad in Satara.   

Later in the day, the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve issued a challenge. “The tomb is the remains of our history. We should be able to tell our future generations that Aurangzeb came here and was defeated and buried in this land itself. The call to remove the grave is a conspiracy to end this history. The presence of the grave is a reminder that the Mughal king was defeated and buried here. Those who have the guts to demolish the tomb, I challenge them to do it,” Mr. Danve said.  

Shiv Sena leader and guardian minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district Sanjay Shirsat stoked further controversy. “Maharashtra’s soil does not have place for the grave of a cruel emperor who tortured and executed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. It should be removed and there is no debate about it. Those who love Aurangzeb and his grave can take the remnants home. The Opposition takes out rallies holding flags of Pakistan while living in this country. If people like Danve want to keep the tomb, then he should go and offer namaz there,” Mr. Shirsat said.