Seen to be a polarising and controversial figure during his four-decade long political career, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Asim Azmi has now waded into controversial waters espousing a figure who is now persona non grata in politics: Aurangzeb. In the process, he helped the Mahayuti government deflect some of the heat Tuesday over the resignation of minister Dhananjay Munde, after long embroilment in controversy over a murder case. The latest Azmi controversy was stirred by the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar MLA’s remarks criticising the historical accuracy of current Bollywood hit Chhava, a drama centered around Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha king Shivaji. Disputing the film’s portrayal of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, the four-time Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA said, “Wrong history is being shown in ‘Chaava’. Aurangzeb built several temples… I do not think he was a cruel administrator.” Azmi also said that during the Mughal Emperor's reign, India's borders reached Afghanistan and then Burma, and the country was referred to as “sone ki chiriya (golden sparrow)” with its GDP accounting for 24% of the world GDP. On Tuesday, the Mahayuti MLAs raised Azmi’s comments in the Assembly, triggering a heated verbal altercation. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, among others, demanded his suspension. The ensuing chaos led to the adjournment of the House even as Opposition parties termed the move a “political drama”. Shinde called Azmi “a traitor who had no place in the House”, whose comments were “wrong, unacceptable and condemnable”. He also demanded that the SP MLA be booked for treason for praising Aurangzeb, who is often associated with cruelty towards Sambhaji, saying he had “insulted” national heroes, particularly the Maratha legacy. Over the past few decades, his series of controversies have earned the 69-year-old Azmi a reputation of being abrasive and offensive, and of being one of Maharashtra’s most provocative figures, often leaving even SP allies red-faced and triggering protests both on the streets and in the House. However, the SP leader’s support base has largely remained loyal to him, particularly the migrants from Uttar Pradesh – his home state. They are estimated to make up almost 25% of Mumbai’s migrant population, and many see Azmi as a champion of their struggles and aspirations. Belonging to a prosperous zamindar family of Azamgarh district, Azmi moved to Mumbai in 1973 to begin a professional career. He started out in his father’s embroidery unit in Bhendi Bazaar, but eventually transitioned into business, starting a manpower recruitment agency that helped people find jobs in the Gulf countries, and later branched out into real estate. Over the next two decades, he made his mark in Maharashtra’s political scene, again thanks largely to his controversial acts. In 1995, Azmi was appointed the SP Maharashtra president, and remains the party’s only recognisable face in the state. Among the controversies the SP leader has lived down are his arrest in the early 1990s under the stringent TADA for allegedly selling an air ticket to individuals linked to the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 1996. In 2006, he was accused of instigating a mob in Bhiwandi, which allegedly led to the lynching of two policemen. In 2009, he was physically attacked inside the Assembly by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLAs for taking his oath in Hindi instead of Marathi. In 2012, Azmi was convicted by a local court for delivering provocative speeches that incited communal violence. He was sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment but the sentence was suspended and he was acquitted in 2021. Given how his statements are so polarising, Azmi is often accused by his detractors of running with the hare and hunting with the hound, with his strident opposition to the BJP and Shiv Sena a front. His rivals cite instances of the SP supporting the Shiv Sena and BJP in local bodies in the state. Azmi’s wide-ranging political connections also strengthen this impression for some, with the SP leader visiting the residence of Shinde, who was then Chief Minister, during the Ganpati festival in the run up to the Assembly elections last year. However, Azmi’s political base, particularly in constituencies like Bhiwandi and Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, means he remains relevant in Maharashtra's ever-changing political landscape. The AIMIM hit out at Azmi for his comments. “He possesses properties worth crores and has aligned with the BJP in the past to protect them. This time too, he chose to raise this issue when the BJP was facing a crisis. He fails to realise the hardships ordinary Muslims face due to his comments,” AIMIM Maharashtra president Imtiaz Jaleel said. Azmi has declared assets worth Rs 309 crore in his election affidavit.
