VHP burnt the effigy of Aurangzeb tomb controversy, 4 people were injured in vandalism and arson amid tense atmosphere in the area.
In Nagpur Mahal area of Maharashtra, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad burnt an effigy of Aurangzeb tomb controversy on Monday evening, following which violence broke out Officials said that a rumor spread during the protest that the agitators had burnt a religious book. This led to stone pelting between the two sides. Several vehicles were vandalised and set on fire.The police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the rioters. Four people were injured in the incident.
Know what is the Aurangzeb tomb controversy…
The issue of removing the tomb of Aurangzeb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (earlier Aurangabad) of Maharashtra has started gaining momentum. Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have demanded that the Maharashtra government remove it soon. Amid the controversy, the security of the tomb has been increased. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Maharashtra and Goa Regional Minister Govind Shende has described Aurangzeb’s tomb as a symbol of slavery. He said on Monday that Aurangzeb tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days before killing him. Why should any trace of such a cruel ruler remain?
On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a program that strict legal action will be taken against those who glorify the barbaric ideas of the cruel Aurangzeb. This idea will be crushed there and then.
Aurangzeb tomb controversy was built in 1707
Actually, the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is in Khuldabad, Maharashtra. According to historians, when Aurangzeb died in 1707, as per his wish, he was buried near the dargah of his spiritual guru Sheikh Zainuddin in Khuldabad. This place is about 25 km away from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Aurangzeb’s grave was a simple earthen grave, which was later replaced with marble by British Viceroy Lord Curzon. This place is considered historically and religiously important, where people still come to pay homage.
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Nagpur Police said that-:
Thousands of people gathered in the area and stones were pelted on houses. The incident took place in Chitnis Park and Mahal area. Officials said that as per initial reports, the belt road from Chitnis Park to Shukravi Talaw was the worst affected by the violence, where rioters set a few four-wheelers on fire. Police are trying to disperse the crowd, which numbered in the thousands.
Hindu organizations are protesting across Maharashtra
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are protesting across Maharashtra on Monday demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. During this time effigies of Mughal invaders are also being burnt. BJP MLA from Goshamahal in Telangana and Hindu leader T Raja Singh has also demanded the removal of the grave. He said- I support the demand of VHP and Bajrang Dal. Earlier, T Raja Singh had written a letter to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on March 15. He has sought details of the expenditure allocated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the maintenance of the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb located in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district. He said- What is the justification for government spending on the tomb of Aurangzeb who killed Hindu kings, destroyed temples and suppressed our culture? Not a single rupee of taxpayers should be spent on the maintenance of the tomb of a dictator who caused great suffering to our ancestors. This should be stopped immediately.
Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan demanded the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. He said that if the government fails to do so, it will have the same fate as Babri Masjid.
Raut said- this is a memorial of the valor of the Marathas
Shiv Sena Uddhav faction leader Sanjay Raut targeted BJP leaders over the grave controversy. He said- Aurangzeb’s grave is a monument to the bravery of the Marathas. It will tell the coming generations how Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha soldiers kept fighting the invaders.
Congress said- what will be achieved by removing the grave
Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar in Maharashtra said- Bajrang Dal and VHP have nothing left to do. They do not want the people of Maharashtra to live in peace. They want to slow down the pace of development in the state. I would like to tell them that Aurangzeb lived here for 27 years and he could not do anything for the state. Now what will they get after removing his grave. Amidst the controversy over Aurangzeb’s grave, former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam made a big statement in Moradabad on Sunday. Krishnam said, ” Destroying graves is the work of Taliban.” India’s culture is not to fight with the dead.
Police made tight security arrangements
The police have made strict security arrangements in the area of Aurangzeb’s tomb. Barricades have been put up at various places. Arrangements have been made so that only one person can enter there. The police have closed the main gate of Aurangzeb’s tomb. Going near Aurangzeb’s tomb has also been banned. At present, Aurangzeb’s tomb can be seen only from outside.