Fri Mar 28 18:20:17 UTC 2025: ## Maharashtra Shiv Sena Demands Removal of Aurangzeb’s Tomb from Protected Monuments List
**Mumbai, March 28, 2025** – The Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra has launched a campaign to remove the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from the list of protected monuments in India. The tomb, located in Khuldabad near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is currently protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.
Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai stated that while the state government cannot directly act due to the site’s protection by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Shiv Sena will petition the central government for its removal from the protected list. Only after the central government de-lists the monument can the state government take further action, he added.
This move follows a letter submitted by Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale to the Indian Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The letter highlighted Aurangzeb’s history of religious intolerance and the brutal execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, emphasizing the strong anti-Aurangzeb sentiment in Maharashtra. Shewale’s letter directly requested the de-notification of the tomb as a Monument of National Importance.
The demand has sparked tension in Maharashtra, with increased security measures implemented at the tomb. Ajit Pawar, in response to the controversy, urged all parties to resist divisive forces. The Shiv Sena’s actions underscore the deep historical and political sensitivities surrounding Aurangzeb’s legacy in the region.
First Piper 