Mumbai, Mar 4 (PTI): Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi's remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday with the ruling Mahayuti members seeking his suspension and accusing him of treason, prompting the legislator to retract his statements later.

Both the Houses of the state legislature were adjourned for the day over the issue.

In a post on X after that, Azmi said his statements were twisted.

"Whatever I have said about Aurangzeb is something that has been stated by historians and writers. I have not made any derogatory remarks against Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any national icons. Still, if anyone is hurt by my remarks, then I take back my statements and comments," he said.

The issue is being politicised. Disrupting the budget session due to this is a loss of people of Maharashtra, he said.

In Delhi, the BJP latched on to Azmi's remarks and slammed the Congress and other opposition parties, stating that they could stoop down to any level in their bid to "eradicate" Sanatan Dharma.

As proceedings of both the Houses began, the Mahayuti members started raising slogans seeking action against the SP's state president.

They claimed Azmi was a descendent of Aurangzeb, who tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and brutally killed him.

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde led the attack on Azmi both in the legislative council and assembly.

In the council, the former CM said Azmi also made objectionable statements in the past against Shivaji Maharaj.

"Azmi is purposely insulting Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj. Sambhaji's Maharaj's bravery and Aurangzeb's cruelty will give goosebumps to people," Shinde said in the council.

Aurangzeb tortured Sambhaji Maharaj in an inhuman way. Azmi referred to Aurangzeb as an able administrator who built temples but he razed Kashi Vishveshwar temple, Shinde said.

The Mughal emperor not only killed Hindus but also people from other religions, he said.

"Aurangzeb lost even after he won, but Sambhaji, through his bravery, won even even after his sacrifice. He (Aurangzeb) is a demon. Even a true Muslim will not forgive the progeny of traitors. It is wrong to eulogise Aurangzeb," he added.

The deputy CM also demanded that Azmi's membership of the legislative assembly be revoked.

In the assembly, Shinde dubbed Azmi a "traitor" and said he had no right to sit in the House.

He asked SP MLA Raees Shaikh to watch the recent Hindi film 'Chhaava', which has documented the bravery and sacrifice of Sambhaji Maharaj.

"See the torture Sambhaji Maharaj endured for 40 days. Aurangzeb asked him to change his religion," he said.

Sambhaji Maharaj won 70 battles in nine years, he said, adding that Aurangzeb demolished temples and killed his own family.

Industries Minister Uday Samant (Shiv Sena) reiterated the demand that Azmi be suspended from the House and be booked for treason, while BJP's Atul Bhatkhalkar made similar demands.

"We cannot tolerate praise of a person who harassed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj," Samant said.

Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) demanded that Aurangzeb's grave (in Maharashtra) be demolished.

Amid the uproar, opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) member Bhaskar Jadhav, who tried to speak on an adjournment notice submitted by him in the legislative assembly, termed developments in the House as "drama".

The assembly proceedings were adjourned three times after din over the issue, and later adjourned for the day.

Azmi had said that during Aurangzeb's reign, India's border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).

"Our GDP accounted for 24 per cent (of the world GDP) and India was called a golden sparrow (during his regime)," claimed the MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai.

Asked about the fight between Aurangzeb and Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Azmi had termed it a political battle.

In the legislative council, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve said not only Azmi but those insulting national icons, including Chhatrapati Shivaji, should be punished.

Council Chairman Ram Shinde said the government should take strict action against whoever has spoken against national icons and Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Following din over Azmi's comments, the Upper House was briefly adjourned twice and then for the day.

In Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed Azmi's remarks an "insult to the entire Indian society" and alleged that the opposition INDIA bloc constituents are engaged in a "cut-throat competition" with each other to prove themselves anti-Hindu for minority votes.

He also called the comments a "cruel joke" on the traditions established by Chhatrapati Shivaji and the sacrifices made by Chhatrapati Sambhaji.

"This unwarranted and unwanted glorification of Aurangzeb, who was one of the most cruel and tyrannical rulers in history, is an insult to Indian society. This is an old tendency of the Congress and 'INDI alliance'. Earlier, their Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi had visited Aurangzeb's tomb and prayed," Trivedi said.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police began a probe into a case registered against Azmi over his remarks.

The police have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs), 302 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 356(1) & 356(2) (defamation).

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New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi became a trending topic on social media platform 'X' following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, which was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceasefire, mediated by the United States, drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress party, which accused the central government of "succumbing" to foreign pressure.

The Congress and its leaders took to 'X' to draw parallels between the current situation and the 1971 India-Pakistan war under Indira Gandhi’s leadership. The official handles of the Congress and Kerala Congress posted images of the former prime minister with captions praising her courage and strength. "Indira Gandhi. COURAGE | CONVICTION | STRENGTH," read a post from the Congress’s main handle, while party leader Supriya Shrinate added, “It is not easy to be Indira Gandhi.”

Kerala Congress official 'X' handle also shared a post of former PM Indira Gandhi addressing media in the US, where she is heard saying, " It is not the task of any one country to say to another what they should do, even if it is a question of helping."

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called for an all-party meeting and a special Parliament session to discuss recent developments, including the terror attacks in Pahalgam and the path ahead. He also posted a letter written by Indira Gandhi to then U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971, asserting that there was no "neutral site" in her time as there is now. “She ensured that there was no ‘neutral site’ which has now been agreed to,” he wrote.

Congress MP Manish Tewari remarked that the U.S. was openly highlighting its mediation role, calling it “third party mediation.” He noted that the agreement involved not just a ceasefire but also talks at a neutral venue, which he said was being portrayed as diplomatic intervention.

Former Youth Congress president Srinivas B.V. criticized the current regime for yielding to external pressure, contrasting it with Indira Gandhi’s defiance in 1971 despite U.S. threats. “Indira Gandhi neither stopped nor bowed down, nor got scared,” he wrote, recalling her role in the creation of Bangladesh.

The Left also expressed concerns over American involvement. CPIML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya questioned why India under Prime Minister Modi had to rely on “a long night of American mediation” for a ceasefire. He urged both countries to de-escalate and restore diplomatic relations while bringing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice.

The Congress further posted excerpts from Indira Gandhi’s 1971 letter to Nixon: “We have our backbones straight, enough will & resources to fight all atrocities... That was courage, that was standing up for India, that was not compromising with the nation’s pride.”

Another X user, @srivatsayb, tweeted, “Today every Indian will understand.”

"But the fact remains: there has only been one #IndiraGandhi. India’s MOST powerful Prime Minister," wrote TMC MP, Sagarika Ghose.

Another user, @CheKrishnaCk, wrote, “Everyone cannot be Indira Gandhi.”