You are digging up a 400-year-old issue: Uddhav on Nagpur violence
Recently, clashes broke out in Nagpur during a protest against the tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, leaving several vehicles torched and police officials pelted with stones. The incident has sparked a heated debate, with former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray questioning the need for a face-off on this issue.
According to reports, the protest was organized by a group of right-wing activists who were opposed to the existence of Aurangzeb’s tomb in the city. The protesters demanded that the tomb be removed and replaced with a memorial dedicated to Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
However, the protest turned violent when some of the protesters clashed with the police, resulting in the torching of several vehicles and pelted stones at the police officials. The police had to use tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
Uddhav Thackeray, who is the chief of the Shiv Sena, a political party known for its strong Hindutva ideology, has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for instigating the violence. In a statement, Thackeray said, “You are digging up a 400-year-old issue. Why are they doing this drama?”
Thackeray’s comments have sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that the issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb is a sensitive topic that has the potential to ignite communal tensions. Others have argued that the tomb is a historical relic and should be preserved and respected.
The incident has also led to a war of words between Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. Fadnavis has alleged that the violence was premeditated and that the Shiv Sena was involved in the planning of the protest.
Thackeray has denied the allegations, saying that the Shiv Sena was not involved in the protest and that the violence was the result of the BJP’s instigation. He has also demanded that the BJP take responsibility for the violence and apologize to the people of Nagpur.
The incident has also raised questions about the role of political parties in fueling communal tensions. Many have argued that political parties are using the issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb to score political brownie points and to divide the people along communal lines.
The Nagpur violence has also sparked a debate about the importance of preserving historical relics. Some have argued that Aurangzeb’s tomb is a historical relic that should be preserved and respected, while others have argued that it is a symbol of the Mughal Empire’s oppression of Hindus and should be removed.
The issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb has been a contentious one in Maharashtra for many years. In 2013, the state government had decided to remove the tomb, but the decision was later revoked after protests from Muslim groups.
The latest incident has once again raised the question of what should be done with the tomb. Some have argued that it should be removed and replaced with a memorial dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while others have argued that it should be preserved and respected as a historical relic.
The debate is likely to continue in the coming days, with both sides presenting their arguments and counterarguments. However, one thing is clear – the issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb is a sensitive one that has the potential to ignite communal tensions and divide the people of Maharashtra.
