Kolkata: Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar has clarified that the Mughal era has not been removed from NCERT textbooks, but rather, repetitive content has been edited out.

Speaking to ANI, Majumdar explained, "It has not been dropped. Repetition has been removed. There should not be repetition." He stressed that while the Mughal period remains a significant chapter in Indian history, it should not be glorified to the detriment of other historical periods. "The Mughal era is an important part of Indian history. Similar importance should be given to other periods as well, especially the golden age of India," he added.

Majumdar further described the Mughal period as "the darkest part of Indian history."

Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also weighed in on the issue, criticising what he called the "glorification" of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in Indian history textbooks. Speaking at a public gathering in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Singh argued that such portrayals distort historical facts and wrongly encourage admiration for a ruler whose legacy is highly controversial. "In our history books, even a cruel and ruthless ruler like Aurangzeb has been presented in a glorified manner. This distorted history has led some to wrongly portray Aurangzeb as a hero. An attempt is being made to generate sympathy for him without acknowledging the truth," he said.

Singh further quoted former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who described Aurangzeb as a "fanatic and bigoted ruler," and noted that Nehru had written about Aurangzeb imposing the Jizya tax on Hindus and oppressing various groups such as Rajputs, Sikhs, and Marathas. Singh also highlighted the destruction of Hindu temples under Aurangzeb’s rule.

In addition, Singh recalled the execution of Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb's elder brother, who was a renowned scholar and translated the Upanishads into Persian. "How can such a ruler be anyone's hero? People never talk about Dara Shikoh, who translated the Upanishads. Who had him killed? Aurangzeb did. His hatred for Sanatan culture was the reason behind Dara Shikoh's murder," Singh remarked.

Aurangzeb remains a polarising figure in Maharashtra, with ongoing controversies surrounding his legacy. Recently, violent clashes erupted in Nagpur following protests by right-wing groups calling for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.