With the intention of the ruling BJP to bake political bread on the sentiments emerged from a film
Khuldabad, a very quiet city of anonymous city of Sambhajinagar district of Marathwada, has once again come into the limelight due to controversy. A Sufi Dargah, colored by whitewash in the narrow streets of the historical area of the city, is targeted by Hindutva fundamentalists as it has a grave of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, his wife and son. Aurangzeb is even three centuries after his death, the target of the Hindutva forces who are intent on erasing every mark of the existence of the Mughal emperor. The series has recently begun after the box-office success of the film Chhawa starring Vicky Kaushal, which tells the story of Shivaji’s eldest son and second Chhatrapati Sambhaji Bhosle of the Maratha Empire, who died in a war with Aurangzeb. Hardcore Hindutva organizations have now raised a new demand to demolish Aurangzeb’s grave in Khuldabad, which is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India.
After the threats, ASI and local authorities have increased security near Sufi Dargah in Khuldabad. This tomb is built on a simple stone platform on which there is no decoration. It is believed that it was built by the disciples of Sufi saint Zainuddin after his death.
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Govind Shende, head of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Maharashtra, said, “Aurangzeb is a symbol of our previous colonialism. We have already changed the names of places in his name, then why should we let it live in our kingdom. Hindus are now awake and we will not tolerate insult to Hindu pride. ”On March 17, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti (according to Samvat Date), the VHP and Bajrang Dal launched a campaign demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave from the kingdom. Shende said, “We will hold peaceful protests across the state and appeal to the district officials to remove the grave.” If there is no response from the government, then our last step will have to be taken into our own hands. ”
The demand has been given theoretical approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and top leaders of two factions of ruling Mahayuti (BJP and Shiv Sena-Shinde faction), which advocates to demolish the tomb. Shinde Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat from Sambhajinagar said that there have been many demonstrations before the removal of the grave. He says, “If his existence is over from this place, we will be satisfied.”
In June 2022, the then Mahavikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray changed the name of Aurangabad district to Sambhajinagar. After coming to power with an overwhelming majority, the BJP now wants to put a mark on the Maratha politics by targeting Aurangzeb’s grave in the district, although it has made the situation uncomfortable for the Ajit Pawar faction of his ally of Mahayuti’s ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Ajit Gut claims secular ideology and has support from Muslim communities in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra region. He has officially separated himself from the attitude of BJP and Shinde faction. Earlier, NCP thought it better to remain silent after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi was suspended for his statement to call Aurangzeb a ‘good administrator’.
NCP Ajit faction spokesman Anand Paranjpe said, “NCP’s agreement with Mahayuti alliance is on the issue of development. We will stand with our coalition partners in all matters of development of Maharashtra, but our views on some issues are different and we are maintained on it. This (grave) is the ASI protected monument and the Government of Maharashtra cannot take any action in this regard. The central government has to decide about this. Instead of protesting in Maharashtra, BJP members should take their agitation to Delhi. ”Paranjpe said that there is no doubt that Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler who destroyed Hindu temples, but it is unfair to raise the issue 300 years after his death.
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Meanwhile, Congress MLA Harshvardhan Sapkal claimed that the BJP government is acting like a Taliban by doing politics on Aurangzeb. He said, “Every year we burn the effigy of Ravana to honor Rama’s valor. In this context, Aurangzeb is a symbol of the bravery of great Marathas and Maval, who saved the region from the Mughals. ”
Sapkal said that Shivaji’s resting place remained unknown for centuries, until social reformer Jyotirao Phule discovered him in Raigad Fort, “But he is trying to snatch this credit. The government should take action against such elements right now. ”Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had given credit to Lokmanya Tilak for first finding samadhi.
Historian Vishwas Patil says that Shivaji was a great Hindu ruler who also took care of his Muslim subjects and recruited many Muslim commanders in his army. After the famous battle of Pratapgarh, where he hugged the powerful Mughal ruler Afzal Khan and killed him with a sharp tiger weapon, Shivaji also gave land for Khan’s grave.
He said, “Shivaji had reminded ministers and soldiers that no one should carry enmity after the death of a person. When Shivaji himself gave this sermon and mention it well in history, it would be foolish to remove Aurangzeb’s grave. ”
On the other hand, during the meeting of the three -day Representative Assembly of the National Self -Service Association in Bangalore, Karnataka, the Sangh spokesperson said in the press conference that the issue of Aurangzeb is irrelevant, but after the meeting, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosbole said that we should pay attention to the complaint of Aurangzeb.
