Maharashtra: Security beefed up at Sambhajinagar after calls for removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the government is obligated to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb which is a protected site, but it won’t allow attempts to glorify his legacy through “mahima mandan”.

“Today we had nearly 60 SRPF personnel in addition to 30 police personnel from the local police station. An inspector and three police inspectors have been stationed at the spot to guide the security personnel. On a daily basis depending upon the threat perception we will take a call on how many security personnel we have to keep at the spot,” a senior official on Monday said.

The official added, “We have also stationed home guards at the entrance where visitors have to give their names and documents so as to ensure that it discourages any mischievous elements to cause any damage.”

The police have also implemented multiple security posts from the entry point to Khuldabad town to the tomb.

Parvez Ahmed, the caretaker of the tomb, told mediapersons that the situation there was peaceful, and people should not believe in rumours.

“Footfall of visitors has gone down after the demands to demolish the grave have come up. The footfall is usually low during Ramzan. Nearly 100 people visit daily, but the number has gone down since the issue was raised,” Ahmed said.

On Monday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged protests at various government offices during the day and submitted memorandums for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad.

In the memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the VHP stated that Aurangzeb had killed two sons of Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh because they refused to convert, tortured and killed Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and demolished temples in Kashi, Mathura and Somnath.

The VHP also warned that it would march to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district and demolish the grave In case of government inaction.
Several other right-wing organisation held similar agitations in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur and suburban areas of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis said while the government is obligated to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb as a declared protected site, its preservation is a matter of historical record rather than reverence.

“It is unfortunate that the government has to take responsibility for the protection of Aurangzeb’s grave, despite his history of persecution.

However, I assure you, if any attempt is made to glorify his legacy through ‘mahima mandan’, it will not succeed,” the CM said after inaugurating a temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Thane district on his birth anniversary.

He said only the temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj deserves “mahima mandan” (glorification) and not the tomb of Aurangzeb.

Reacting to the VHP’s warning of “kar seva” to remove the tomb, senior NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh said the state government should take this development seriously and take appropriate steps, as it could pose a law and order situation in the state.