Sun Mar 16 19:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Maharashtra Politicians Spar Over Aurangzeb Comparison
**Mumbai, March 17, 2025** – A political firestorm erupted in Maharashtra after the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) compared Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s governance to that of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The controversy began after CM Fadnavis stated that Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar should be removed, a sentiment echoed by several right-wing groups. Congress MLA Harshvardhan Sapkal directly equated Mr. Fadnavis’s administration to Aurangzeb’s rule. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut went further, claiming the BJP government’s policies were worse, citing farmer suicides as evidence. He challenged the CM to explain the link between Aurangzeb’s legacy and the current agrarian crisis.
BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule strongly condemned the comparisons, calling Sapkal’s remarks “childish and irresponsible,” and accusing the Congress of insulting Maharashtra’s identity through such inflammatory statements. He asserted that the people of Maharashtra would reject the Congress’s attempts to remain relevant through such tactics.
The heated exchange highlights the rising tensions surrounding Aurangzeb’s tomb and underscores the deep political divisions in Maharashtra.
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