The Maharashtra BJP took aim at its former ally, the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and questioned their stance on Prakash Ambedkar’s visit to the Aurangzeb memorial in Sambhaji Nagar.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the State BJP president, expressed the party’s curiosity, stating, “VBA and Shiv Sena (UBT) are in an alliance. We would like to know if Uddhav Thackeray supports Prakash Ambedkar’s visit to the Aurangzeb memorial.”
While the Sena (UBT) maintains that its Hindutva ideology and political position regarding Aurangzeb have never been compromised, the BJP now seeks clarification on whether the alliance with the VBA will continue. The two parties had previously agreed to contest elections together.
Responding to these inquiries, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai, based in Mumbai, stated, “The VBA and Shiv Sena (UBT) are two distinct political parties,” asserting that his party remains steadfast in its ideology.
After visiting the Aurangzeb tomb in Khuldabad, Prakash Ambedkar spoke to reporters, emphasizing that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had ruled for 50 years, and instead of vilifying him, people should be knowledgeable about history.
Amidst recent arrests and clashes in Maharashtra over social media posts glorifying Aurangzeb, Ambedkar stated, “What is wrong with visiting Aurangzeb’s tomb? He was a Mughal emperor who ruled here for 50 years. Can we erase history?”
“Instead of disparaging Aurangzeb, we should contemplate why he ruled here and examine the reasons. We should be mindful of our past. Rather than spreading hatred, let us embrace the facts and view it as a historical narrative,” he added.
Ambedkar also questioned the uproar caused by individuals posting pictures of Aurangzeb on social media, suggesting that there is a deliberate effort to politicize these issues. He stated, “If I were Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, I would have put an end to these controversies within 24 hours.”
Ambedkar referred to his visit as a “personal decision” and clarified that it would not adversely affect his party’s alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray.
