Mumbai: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on Tuesday apologised for his controversial remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The Samajwadi Party MLA released a video message. Azmi said that his words were twisted. Issuing clarification, the SP MLA said that he only mentioned what historians and writers had stated.
Yesterday, on March 3, when the assembly was over, when I went out, the TV reporters told me that the Assam Chief Minister said that Rahul Gandhi’s image is like Aurangzeb. I had read what Satish Chandraji, Adri Truskay, Dr. Rajiv Dixit, Dr. Ram Punia, Ava Doja, Meena Bhargava have praised Aurangzeb. that he had given money to temples. I just repeated what they said,” Azmi said.
“I would never imagine insulting a figure like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, DR Bhimrao Ambedkar. We all respect them. I would never speak ill about these legendary kings. If anyone is hurt by my statement, which was twisted, I take my statement back,” Azmi added.
He further added that the Maharashtra Assembly should function and should not be interrupted because of such issues as it will be a loss to the people of the state.
Maharashtra’s Samajwadi Party (SP) president on Monday stirred a political controversy by after making controversial remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Azmi’s comments sparked outrage, particularly from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), which filed multiple police complaints against him. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has gone a step further, demanding that sedition charges be filed against the SP leader.
The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) formally registered a complaint against Abu Azmi at Mumbai’s Marine Drive police station. Former MLA and Shiv Sena spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar, accompanied by party workers, urged the authorities to take strict action against Azmi. The party is pushing for sedition charges, citing his remarks as inflammatory and against national interests.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske also lodged a separate complaint, leading to the Thane police registering a case against Azmi at Wagle Estate Police Station.
