‘Send Him to UP We Will Treatment Him’ Yogi Adityanath Slams SP’s Abu Azmi Over Aurangzeb Praise

New Delhi, March 05, 2025 – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unleashed a fiery attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi on Wednesday, reacting to Azmi’s controversial praise of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Speaking in the UP Legislative Council, Adityanath demanded Azmi’s removal from SP, saying, “Send him to UP, we’ll treat him.” The sharp rebuke has fueled a growing political storm that’s now gripping two states.

The uproar began when Azmi, SP’s Maharashtra president and MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, claimed Aurangzeb was a “good administrator” who built temples and led India to prosperity, with borders stretching to Afghanistan and Myanmar. His comments, tied to criticism of the film Chhava about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, enraged many who see Aurangzeb as a tyrant responsible for Sambhaji’s brutal execution in 1689. Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde branded Azmi a “traitor,” accusing him of treason.

Protests erupted across Maharashtra, with Shiv Sena announcing statewide rallies demanding sedition charges. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Assembly suspended Azmi for the entire budget session after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil moved the motion. Cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been filed in Mumbai and Thane, starting with a Zero FIR in Thane transferred to Mumbai’s Marine Drive station.

ALSO READ | Kannada Actress Top DGP’s Stepdaughter Ranya Rao Arrested in Bengaluru for Smuggling 14.2 Kg Gold from Dubai

Adityanath didn’t mince words, questioning Azmi’s right to stay in India. “Someone ashamed of Shivaji Maharaj’s heritage and idolizing Aurangzeb—does he belong here? SP must answer,” he thundered. He accused SP of straying from its founder Ram Manohar Lohia’s ideals, suggesting they’ve embraced Aurangzeb over India’s cultural heroes.

Azmi backtracked amid the backlash, posting a video apology on X. “My words were twisted. I didn’t insult Shivaji or Sambhaji Maharaj. If anyone’s hurt, I withdraw my statement,” he said, insisting he only echoed historians. But the apology hasn’t quelled the fury, with Yogi hinting at UP’s “treatment” for such views—a phrase sparking debate online about its meaning.

This clash, unfolding during Maharashtra’s budget session and UP’s legislative wrap-up, highlights deep historical wounds and political rivalries. As protests simmer and legal battles loom, Azmi’s fate—and SP’s response—remains a hot topic nationwide.