Mon Mar 03 20:31:31 UTC 2025: ## Samajwadi Party MLA Faces Backlash, Sedition Case Filed Over Aurangzeb Praise

**Mumbai, India** – A Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator in Maharashtra, Abu Azmi, has ignited a firestorm of controversy after praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as a “great administrator” during a state assembly session. His remarks, made during the budget session’s opening day, immediately drew sharp condemnation from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who demanded the filing of a sedition case against Azmi.

Shinde vehemently denounced Azmi’s statements, calling him a “traitor” for praising Aurangzeb, who oversaw the brutal killing of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of the Maratha warrior king Shivaji Maharaj. Shinde insisted that an apology was insufficient and that legal action was necessary.

Following Shinde’s call, two police cases were registered against Azmi – one filed by Shiv Sena activists and another by the party’s Thane MP. Despite the mounting pressure, Azmi stood firm, defending his comments by claiming that a distorted historical narrative is being propagated. He asserted that Aurangzeb constructed numerous temples and that the conflict between Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was a political struggle, not a religious one. Azmi further claimed that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s borders extended to Afghanistan and boasted a 24% GDP, earning the moniker “Sone ki Chidiya” (Golden Bird).

Azmi’s comments have drawn widespread criticism from both ruling and opposition parties, particularly in the wake of the recent release of the film “Chhapaak,” which depicts the torture inflicted on Sambhaji Maharaj by Aurangzeb. Shinde graphically detailed the alleged atrocities, highlighting the brutal nature of Sambhaji Maharaj’s death. The controversy surrounding Azmi’s remarks continues to escalate, raising questions about historical narratives and political discourse in India.

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