Abu Azmi Suspended from Maharashtra Assembly Over Aurangzeb Praise: Political Storm Erupts
Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi faced suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, barred for the entire budget session after his controversial praise for Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ignited a fierce political backlash. The decision, proposed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, came as soon as the day’s proceedings began, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing row.
The uproar started when Azmi, a four-time MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, criticized the Bollywood film Chhava, which portrays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of revered Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj. Azmi claimed Aurangzeb was a “good administrator,” not the cruel ruler depicted in history. “India’s borders stretched to Afghanistan and Burma under him. We were called the ‘golden bird’ with 24% of global GDP,” he said, alleging films like Chhava twist facts.
His remarks didn’t sit well with the ruling Mahayuti coalition. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde demanded Azmi’s suspension, calling his praise of Aurangzeb—who tortured and killed Sambhaji Maharaj in 1689—“treasonous.” BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar went further, urging Azmi’s permanent removal as an MLA. “Shivaji Maharaj is our pride. We can’t tolerate this insult,” he thundered in the Assembly, which adjourned twice Tuesday amid the chaos.
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Facing mounting pressure, Azmi backtracked on X. “My words were twisted. I only repeated what historians say about Aurangzeb. I never insulted Shivaji or Sambhaji Maharaj. If anyone’s hurt, I take it back,” he wrote. But the apology didn’t calm the storm. A Zero FIR filed in Thane—later shifted to Mumbai’s Marine Drive police—charges him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for hurting religious sentiments, based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske.
The controversy, erupting during the budget session, has spotlighted historical divides. Aurangzeb’s legacy remains polarizing—celebrated by some for economic might, vilified by others for temple demolitions and Maratha conflicts. For now, Azmi’s suspension stands, with Shinde vowing, “Maharashtra won’t forgive him.” As tensions simmer, this clash underscores the state’s deep reverence for its Maratha heroes.
