Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi’s comment that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was a great administrator and during his time, India was called “Sone ki Chidiya”, has sparked a massive controversy. The SP MLA’s comment came during the first day of Maharashtra assembly’s budget session. He was immediately berated by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who demanded that a sedition case be filed against him.<\/p>\n

Terming Abu Azmi a “traitor”. Mr Shinde said, “Praising Aurangzeb – who killed Chhatrapati Shivaji’s son Sambhaji — as a good administrator is a great sin”.<\/p>\n

“It is not enough to condemn such a statement. A case of sedition should be registered against Abu Azmi… He should apologise,” he added.<\/p>\n

Hours later, two police cases were lodged against him – one by Shiv Sena activists and the other by the party’s Thane MP.<\/p>\n

Mr Azmi, the MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, though, stood by his comment.<\/p>\n

“Wrong history is being shown,” he later told the media.<\/p>\n

“Aurangzeb built many temples. I do not consider Aurangzeb a cruel administrator. Also, the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was a battle for state administration. That battle was not about Hindus and Muslims anywhere,” he added.<\/p>\n

Then he said that during Aurangzeb’s time, India’s border extended to Afghanistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“At that time, our GDP was 24 per cent… India was called Sone Ki Chidiya,” he claimed.<\/p>\n

Mr Azmi’s comment, though, did not go down well with the ruling or the opposition parties, especially in the wake of the Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Chhaava’ that depicted the torture of Sambhaji Maharaj.<\/p>\n

Mr Shinde said Sambhaji Maharaj was subjected to unspeakable atrocities by Aurangzeb for 40 days. His eyes were gouged out, fingers ripped off and tongue cut. Then he was skinned alive.<\/p>\n

(With agencies)<\/p>\n

\u200bSamajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi’s comment that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was a great administrator and during his time, India was called “Sone ki Chidiya”, has sparked a massive controversy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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