Maharashtra: FIR Filed Against SP Leader Abu Azmi for Aurangzeb Comments
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Synopsis
An FIR has been filed against Abu Azmi, the chief of the Maharashtra Samajwadi Party, after he defended Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, sparking controversy across the political landscape. His remarks have drawn criticism, leading to demands for an apology from political leaders.
Key Takeaways
- An FIR has been filed against Abu Azmi.
- Azmi defended Aurangzeb, claiming he was misunderstood.
- Political leaders are demanding an apology from Azmi.
- The controversy began during a press conference in Mumbai.
- Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske initiated the complaint.
Mumbai, March 4 (NationPress) An FIR has been lodged against the chief of the Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) and MLA Abu Azmi following his statements defending the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, claiming he was not a cruel leader. This declaration has ignited significant controversy, drawing intense criticism from political figures across various parties.
The uproar began after Azmi made his comments while speaking to journalists in Mumbai at the start of the Maharashtra Assembly session.
In response to a recent comparison made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma between the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Aurangzeb, Azmi contended that the Mughal ruler was being misrepresented.
Subsequently, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske filed a complaint at the Wagle Estate Police Station in Thane, resulting in an FIR being registered against Azmi under sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Azmi remarked, “Aurangzeb constructed numerous temples. In Varanasi, he rescued a Hindu girl from a priest with ill intentions. He had the priest dealt with by elephants.”
Defending his assertion, he further stated, “I do not view Aurangzeb as a cruel ruler. Political conflicts during that time were not based on religion. Aurangzeb’s military included many Hindus, just as Chhatrapati Shivaji’s forces had several Muslims.”
He also mentioned that during Aurangzeb's reign, India's territorial extent reached up to Afghanistan, arguing that the ruler was being unjustly maligned through a religious perspective.
These comments have triggered a political uproar, with Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde leading the opposition against Azmi.
Shinde vehemently condemned Azmi's statements, demanding an apology, stating, “He must apologize for this because Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a patriot and a true nationalist. Aurangzeb was responsible for the horrific 40-day torture and execution of Sambhaji Maharaj. Glorifying Aurangzeb's regime is a serious offense, and Abu Azmi must apologize for this. By speaking against a patriot, he has marked himself as anti-national.”
