Mumbai: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s recent statewide protests on the Aurangazeb issue were carried out with the full knowledge of its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sources in the VHP said RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar’s statement on Wednesday that “Aurangzeb was not relevant” was being taken out of context.
A senior office-bearer of the VHP pointed out that “when Ambekar was asked at a press conference if Aurangzeb was relevant he replied in the negative. But he never said anything against the campaign to remove the burial tomb of the Mughal ruler in Khuldabad.”
Ambekar had addressed a press meet in Bengaluru primarily to brief the media about the annual meeting of the RSS’ supreme policy-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha which is scheduled to take place in the garden city from March 21 to 23. The meeting, among other things, will chalk out a plan to celebrate 100 years of the RSS commencing next month.
The view of the Sangh parivar on the issue was made clear by chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis who said that the tomb will have to be dismantled, but since it is an ASI-protected structure the removal will have to be done as per law. He made this statement while inaugurating a temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Bhiwandi recently.
“It is unfortunate that the government has to protect the tomb of a tyrant,” he added. In fact, he derisively referred to the Mughal ruler as “Aurangya.” “Fadnavis was echoing the view of the Sangh Parivar when he said the tomb has to go,” an RSS leader noted on condition of anonymity.
The VHP, in fact, plans to step up its campaign for the removal of the tomb of the controversial ruler. The VHP endorsed the view of Fadnavis that after the mega success of the film “Chhava” on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj a wave of anger was sweeping Maharashtra in particular against Aurangzeb.
The Parishad is planning to channelise this anger to achieve its target of removing the tomb. Efforts are being made to seek the support of the Sikh community too since Aurangzeb had committed atrocities on Sikh Gurus and their children and associates.
After scoring victory vis-a-vis the Ramjanambhoomi issue, the Sangh is now planning to mobilise public opinion on the Aurangzeb tomb issue. The film “Chhava” was made in Hindi and has reached an audience of millions across the country creating a strong public opinion against the erstwhile ruler. The Sangh wants to utilise this situation to further its agenda of Hindutva.
