Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has voiced his opposition to the demand for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave, located in Khuldabad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra. He stated that such an action would not serve any purpose and emphasized that the matter should not be politicized.
Athawale acknowledged Aurangzeb’s historical misdeeds, including the execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, but argued that the grave stands as a reminder of history and should remain undisturbed. He also pointed out that Aurangzeb ultimately failed to conquer the Maratha kingdom and died in Maharashtra.
The demand for the grave’s removal has been raised by some right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who have threatened protests if their demands are unmet. However, Athawale, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP, believes that reopening this issue is unnecessary and could lead to unnecessary controversy.
