Don't spend government money on upkeep of Aurangzeb's tomb, demands MNS

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has demanded that government funds should not be used for the maintenance of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. This comes as right-wing groups push for the tomb's removal.

A local MNS delegation, led by Raj Thackeray, submitted a memorandum to collector Dileep Swami, outlining five key demands related to the monument. The tomb, located in Khultabad in central Maharashtra, is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The party’s demands include the installation of a board at the site stating, "We, Marathas, have buried Aurangzeb here who came to finish us." Additionally, the MNS called for any decorative elements near the tomb to be removed, and for the area to be placed under CCTV surveillance.

The memorandum also stated that no government money should be spent on the upkeep of the tomb. The MNS further suggested that students in the district be taken on study tours of the site to educate them on the history of the controversial emperor, who ruled from 1658 to 1707.

The MNS's stance comes amid growing calls from right-wing groups to remove Aurangzeb's tomb. On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis affirmed that while the tomb is a protected monument, its glorification would not be allowed.

Speaking at his annual Gudi Padwa rally in Mumbai on Sunday, MNS president Raj Thackeray condemned efforts to stir communal tension over the tomb. He emphasised that history should not be viewed through the lens of caste or religion, and urged people to avoid relying on WhatsApp forwards for historical information. Thackeray remarked that while Aurangzeb aimed to "kill a thought called Shivaji," he ultimately failed and died in Maharashtra. PTI