Following threats to demolish it from right-wing organizations like the Bajrang Dal, authorities have increased security at the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Aurangabad.
About the Case:
A burgeoning political and communal dispute revolves around the tomb, which is a protected site under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Vivek Kulkarni, a convenor for the Bajrang Dal in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Goa, has publicly stated that the building will suffer the same fate as the Babri Masjid.
He declared that the organization will first hold a dharna and send a letter to the collector before moving forward with plans for a “Kar Sewa” in which lakhs of people would demolish the tomb. The dispute started on March 7 when Udayan Raje Bhosale, a Satara MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, called Aurangzeb a “thief and looter” and requested that the mausoleum be demolished.
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, acknowledged a day later that many people wanted the site taken down, but he said that the law had to be followed. According to ASI officials, the tomb is considered a “monument of national interest.” Local businesses have been impacted by the dispute; traders have reported a drop in tourists. A store owner stated, “Ramzan may also be a factor, but if the situation persists, we’ll have to shut down.”
The issue has caused conflict between the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and the ruling Shiv Sena. State Minister Sanjay Shirsat retorted that there was no place for Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra, while Leader of the Opposition Ambadas Danve claimed that destroying the tomb would obliterate history.
