The Maharashtra Assembly erupted in chaos on Tuesday as ruling Mahayuti MLAs called for the suspension of state Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi due to his controversial comments praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar initiated the call for Azmi’s suspension during the Assembly session, prompting ruling party members to voice their dissent with loud slogans. In light of the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes.
Upon the session’s resumption, Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant reiterated the demand for suspension and urged that sedition charges be brought against Azmi. Bhaskar Jadhav, an MLA from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also condemned Azmi’s comments, asserting that he should be held accountable for his statements.
After Jadhav’s remarks, tensions escalated as ruling party members once again engaged in shouting slogans against Azmi, leading the Speaker to once more adjourn the Assembly for 30 minutes amidst the discord.
During the fracas, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned Azmi’s statements, accusing him of insulting revered figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, insisting that such individuals should not remain in the Assembly.
Opposition members joined in the protest, escalating the fervor of the sloganeering on both sides. The situation prompted Deputy Speaker Sanjay Kelkar to call for a 15-minute adjournment. However, upon resuming, the situation deteriorated, with ruling party members advancing towards the Speaker’s chair.
In a bid to restore order, Speaker Rahul Narwekar intervened and adjourned the Assembly for the remainder of the day.
WHAT DID ABU AZMI SAY ABOUT AURANGZEB?
Azmi ignited controversy with his assertion that he did not perceive Aurangzeb as violent or intolerant, arguing that modern portrayals in films have misrepresented the Mughal emperor’s legacy.
His comments came shortly after the release of a film centered on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who fell victim to Aurangzeb’s cruelty in the 17th century.
In response to Azmi’s remarks, Eknath Shinde demanded an apology and suggested that treason charges should be considered. Azmi now faces charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint from Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske, including provisions for criminalizing insults to religious beliefs and defamation.
Later, Azmi expressed regret for his statements, claiming they had been “misrepresented” and were based on historical documentation.
