Sat Apr 19 04:23:28 UTC 2025: ## Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Condemns Glorification of Aurangzeb, Celebrates Maharana Pratap and Shivaji Maharaj
**Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra –** Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday unveiled a life-size statue of Maharana Pratap in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, using the occasion to deliver a strong rebuke against the glorification of Mughal emperors like Aurangzeb and Babur. He asserted that Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are true national heroes, contrasting their legacies with that of Aurangzeb, whom he described as a bigot and cruel ruler, citing even Jawaharlal Nehru’s assessment.
Singh highlighted the contributions of both Maharana Pratap and Shivaji Maharaj, emphasizing their inclusive leadership. He noted the participation of Adivasis and Muslims in Maharana Pratap’s army, citing examples like Hakim Khan Suri and Madari, a Muslim bodyguard of Shivaji Maharaj, to counter claims of religious intolerance. He accused post-independence historians with Left leanings of downplaying the contributions of these Rajput and Maratha rulers while excessively praising Aurangzeb.
The Defence Minister further defended the renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Aurangzeb Road in Delhi to APJ Abdul Kalam Road, arguing that glorifying figures like Babur, Taimur, Aurangzeb, Ghori, and Ghaznavi is an insult to Indian Muslims. He emphasized the BJP’s commitment to treating all Indians equally. Singh’s remarks come amidst recent controversies in Maharashtra regarding Aurangzeb’s tomb in the region.
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