Opposition leaders compare BJP governance in Maharashtra to that of Aurangzeb’s rule

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) compared Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s administration to that of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s rule, sparking a political spat between members of the ruling and Opposition parties.

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Senior Congress leader and MLA Harshvardhan Sapkal said Mr. Fadnavis’s governance was the same as that of Aurangzeb.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the newly elected BJP government’s rule in Maharashtra was worse than that of Aurangzeb’s claiming that farmers and unemployed people were committing suicide.

“It has been 400 years since Aurangzeb was buried. Forget him. Are farmers in Maharashtra committing suicide due to Aurangzeb? They are doing it because of you (Fadnavis),” Mr. Raut claimed.

His comments were in response to the Chief Minister’s statement that “everyone” felt Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar should be removed. It has to be done under legal purview as the previous Congress regime put the site under the Archaeological Survey of India’s protection, Mr. Fadnavis had said.

Responding to the criticism, BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule condemned Congress leader Mr. Sapkal’s statements in a post on X, terming the remarks “extremely childish, irresponsible” and “was tarnishing the culture of Maharashtra”.

“By comparing Aurangzeb with Devendraji Fadnavis, Congress is insulting the identity of Maharashtra. Sapkal and Congress have reached a low level. Due to their childish mentality, Congress has to fight for its own existence and by making such ridiculous statements, they are trying to stay in the news. But the people of Maharashtra are wise, they will show space to Sapkal and Congress,” he added.

The heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition parties follow the tensions involving statements from members of various right-wing groups demanding Aurangzeb’s grave in Sambhaji Nagar to be razed.