The sleepy town of Khuladabad in Sambhajinagar district of Marathwada has once again been jolted awake by a raging controversy. In the narrow lanes of the town's historical quarter, a white-washed Sufi shrine has become a target for Hindutva extremists, as it contains the burial site of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, along with his wife and son.
Three centuries after his death, Aurangzeb continues to haunt Hindutva forces, who are rallying to wipe off all evidence of the existence of the Mughal ruler. The latest round rides on the back of the box-office success of Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava, which tells the story of Sambhaji Bhosale, Shivaji바카라s eldest son and second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, who died a brutal death at the hands of Aurangzeb. Right-wing Hindu organisations have now raised fresh demands to demolish Aurangzeb's tomb in Khuladabad, which is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Following the spate of threats, the ASI and local authorities have heightened security near the Sufi shrine in Khuladabad.바카라ŻThe tomb itself is built on a simple stone platform, bereft of any adornments. It is believed to have been constructed after his death by the disciples of revered Sufi saint Zain Ud Din.
바카라Aurangzeb is a symbol of our past colonisation. We have already changed the names of places after him, so why should we allow his tomb바카라s existence in our state. Hindus have now awakened and we will not tolerate any humiliation of Hindu pride,바카라 said Govind Shende, head of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Maharashtra.
On the occasion of Shiv Jayanti, (as per Hindu traditions of tithi) on March 17, the VHP and Bajrang Dal have launched a campaign demanding the removal of Aurangzeb바카라s tomb from the state.
바카라We will hold peaceful protests across the state by presenting district authorities with an appeal to remove the tomb. If there is no response from the government, our last step will be to take action in our hands,바카라 Shende said.
The demand has already received an in-principle nod from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and top leaders of the ruling Mahayuti (BJP and Shiv Sena-Shinde faction) who strongly believe that the grave should be demolished. Shinde Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat from Sambhajinagar said there have been several demonstrations in the past for the removal of the grave. 바카라We will be satisfied if his existence is removed from this place.바카라
In June 2022, the district till then known as Aurangabad was renamed by the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Mahavikas government to Sambhajinagar. After coming to power with an overwhelming majority, the BJP is now aiming to chart its own legacy on Maratha history by making Aurangzeb바카라s grave in the district a target.
However, the Bhartiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena바카라s overwhelming support for the destruction of the Mughal emperor's grave has created an uncomfortable position for its Mahayuti alliance partner, the Nationalist Congress Party.바카라Ż
The NCP which claims a secular ideology and enjoys support from the native Muslim communities in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra region, has officially distanced itself from the BJP and Shiv Sena바카라s stance. Earlier, the NCP had maintained a muted response following the suspension of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for his contentious statement praising Aurangzeb as a 바카라good administrator.바카라
바카라NCP바카라s agreement with the ruling Mahayuti alliance is on the development plank, we will stand by with our alliance partners on all matters of Maharashtra바카라s development. But on certain issues we have a difference of opinion and we stand by it,바카라 said NCP spokesperson Anand Paranjpe. 바카라It (grave) is an ASI protected monument and the Maharashtra government cannot take action in this regard. The decision has to be made by the Central government. Instead of protesting in Maharashtra, the BJP members should take their agitation to Delhi.바카라
Paranjpe added that there is no doubt that Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler who destroyed Hindu temples, but raking up this issue 300 years after his death was uncalled for.
Congress MLA Harshvardhan Sapkal, meanwhile, claimed the BJP government was acting like the Taliban by playing politics over Aurangzeb. 바카라Every year, we burn the effigy of Raavan, as a tribute to Ram바카라s bravery. In the same context, Aurangzeb is a symbol of the bravery of the great Marathas and Mavlas who protected this territory from the Mughals.바카라
Sapkal noted that for centuries Shivaji바카라s resting place remained unknown until it was discovered by social reformer Jyotirao Phule, who discovered the samadhi (mausoleum) at Raigad Fort. 바카라But there are attempts to take that credit away from him. The government should instead take action against such elements,바카라 he said. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had earlier credited Lokmanya Tilak for finding the samadhi.
Historian Vishwas Patil noted that Shivaji was a great Hindu ruler who looked after his Muslim subjects too and enrolled several Muslim commanders in his army. After the famous battle of Pratapgarh, where he tricked the mighty Mughal ruler Afzal Khan into an embrace and killed him with the sharp tiger claw weapon, Shivaji also donated a piece of land for Khan바카라s tomb. 바카라Shivaji reminded his ministers and troops that one should not harbour enmity after a person바카라s death. When this gospel was preached by Shivaji himself and is well documented in history, it will be foolish to remove Aurangzeb바카라s grave,바카라 he said.
