‘Aurangzeb Not Cruel’: Abu Azmi Under Fire For Praising Mughal Ruler, Shinde Reminds Him Of Sambhaji’s Torture

Last Updated:March 03, 2025, 22:05 IST

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called Azmi’s statement as “wrong and acceptable” and said that he should be charged with treason.

SP leader Abu Azmi (File)

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi on Monday stirred a controversy after praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb as a great administrator.

He claimed that “all the wrong history is being shown” (in reference to Bollywood movie Chhaava- biopic of Chhatrapti Sambhaji Maharaj) and that Aurangzeb “built many temples” and was “not a cruel leader.”

“During Aurangzeb’s time, India’s borders extended to Afghanistan and Burma. Our GDP at that time was 24 percent. India was called ‘Sone ki Chidiya’. Should I call all these things wrong?” Azmi said.

He further said that the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was not religious but rather for power. “The battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was for power. If anyone says that this battle was for religion, I do not believe it,” he said.

BJP and Shiv Sena legislators strongly condemned Azmi’s statement and demanded his apology.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called Azmi’s statement as “wrong and acceptable” and said that he should be charged with treason.

Read More: How Did Aurangzeb, Who Brutally Killed Sambhaji Maharaj, Die? A Glimpse Into Past In ‘Chhaava’ Light

“His statement is wrong and should be condemned. Aurangzeb tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days; calling such a person good is the biggest sin, and hence, Abu Azmi should apologise. Our Chief Minister has taken this matter seriously. He should be charged with treason,” Shinde said.

Shiv Sena MP Files Case Against Azmi

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske filed a case against Azmi at Wagle Estate Police Station over his statement on Aurangzeb.

“A sedition case should be filed against Abu Azmi. He has no right to stay in India. Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of Hindu temples, tortured women, brutally tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was against the country, he looted our country…our leader Eknath Shinde has demanded this morning itself that a sedition case should be filed against him. Today we have come here to file a sedition case against him…” Mhaske said as quoted by ANI.

Who Was Aurangzeb?

The Mughal ruler has once again gained political attention after Vicky Kaushal’s period drama ‘Chhaava’ shone a light on the valiant story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj– whose unwavering resilience inspired the Marathas in their fight against the Mughals.

Sambhaji Maharaj was tragically executed at the hands of Aurangzeb.

Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1658 until his death in 1707. Under his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent- a territory spanning nearly the entirety of the Indian subcontinent.

Aurangzeb came to the throne after imprisoning his father and having his older brother killed. He has been described as a tyrant by historians- an expansionist who imposed tough Sharia laws and ruled ruthlessly.

His critics argue that many of the Mughal ruler’s policies abandoned his predecessors’ legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance like introduction of the jizya tax, demolition of Hindu temples and the execution of Sambhaji Maharaj.