Aurangzeb Tomb Will Be Demolished, Warn Saffron Outfits

Oppressor Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Marathwada region of Maharashtra is threatened to be demolished with a Babri-like operation. The warning has been issued by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal leaders after a crescendo took place with the release of Hindi movie Chhaava that depicts the tragic end of Chhatrapati Sambhaji due to the torture by Aurangzeb. The demand was first voiced by Udayan Raje Bhosale, BJP MP from Satara and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s direct descendent. Aurangzeb spent the last 27 years in Maharashtra to end the Maratha rule but was unsuccessful. He breathed his last at Ahilya Nagar and was buried at Khultabad near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, respecting his last wish. The tombs of Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan, who had come to eliminate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, have been sore points for Hindutva proponents. Aurangzeb’s tomb is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The saffron organisations have planned state wide protests to press their demand to do away with Aurangzeb tomb, failing which the next course of action will be declared. However, some of their leaders have reminded the government of the Kar Seva for the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the subsequent demolition of the Babri, which had come up at the location. Leaders of the Congress party and the NCP (SP) faction have condemned the announcement. Some of them have argued that the tomb should be preserved as a symbol of defeat of the Emperor and his end in frustration in Maharashtra.