Bajrang Dal member Nitin Mahajan has demanded the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, warning that if the government fails to act, the site will meet the same fate as the Babri Masjid.
“In Sambhajinagar, Aurangzeb’s grave is being worshipped. The grave of Sambhaji’s murderer is being built… When such graves are worshipped, then the society also develops in that manner… At that time, we were helpless, but now Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal are demanding that it should be removed,” Mahajan told ANI on Saturday.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan says, “In Sambhajinagar, a (Aurangzeb’s grave) grave is being worshipped. The grave of Sambhaji’s murderer is being built… When such graves are worshipped, then the society also develops in that manner… At that… pic.twitter.com/2XW1eR7ASN
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2025
He announced that on March 17, they would formally urge the government to act. “We will greet the government if they remove it, but if that does not happen, then VHP and Bajrang Dal will come out on the streets and launch a huge agitation,” he said, adding, “And we know what happens when the Hindu community carries out an agitation concerning its existence. We all saw what happened in Ayodhya to remove the Babri structure… If the government does not remove the grave, we will do ‘Karseva’ and do so ourselves.”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also backed the demand for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, stating, “Today, when there is a debate going on in the country on Aurangzeb’s deeds, such a demand is not unreasonable. Aurangzeb’s grave has no meaning in Maharashtra, especially in a district named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj… His grave should be removed from Khuldabad… We expect the Maharashtra government to take a step in this direction as soon as possible.”
According to news agency IANS, security has been heightened at Aurangzeb’s tomb, with SRPF and local police deployed. Visitors are allowed entry only after thorough checking, and barricades have been set up.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra: Security has been heightened at Aurangzeb’s tomb in Aurangabad, with SRPF and local police deployed. Visitors are allowed entry only after thorough checking, and barricades have been set up pic.twitter.com/BcFz7mgRDZ
— IANS (@ians_india) March 16, 2025
BJP MLA T Raja Singh Seeks ASI’s Expenditure Details on Tomb
Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh wrote to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking detailed information regarding funds allocated and spent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Aurangzeb’s tomb.
In his letter dated March 15, Singh questioned the need for government spending on the tomb of Aurangzeb, a ruler whom he accused of destroying temples, killing Hindu kings, and suppressing culture.
“The justification for continued government spending on the tomb of Aurangzeb, a ruler who was responsible for the destruction of our temples, the killing of Hindu kings, and the suppression of our culture,” the BJP leader stated in the letter.
He urged the Centre to stop funding the site immediately. “It is my strong belief that not a single rupee of taxpayer money should be spent on maintaining the tomb of a tyrant who caused immense suffering to our ancestors. The government should consider halting any further expenditure on this site immediately, as it holds no relevance to our cultural heritage and history of valour,” Singh wrote.
Hindutva Leader Milind Ekbote Barred from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Amid rising tensions, the district administration has barred Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote from entering Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar from March 16 to April 5. The deputy resident collector issued an order prohibiting his entry, citing intelligence inputs suggesting that he and his supporters might attempt to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb, news agency PTI reported.
Ekbote, who heads the Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Pratisthan, has been known for his participation in various agitations, including protests against the tomb of Afzal Khan at Pratapgad in Satara. He was also accused of instigating caste riots in Koregaon Bhima in Pune district on January 1, 2018.
The district administration noted that public sentiment regarding Aurangzeb’s tomb has intensified following the release of the film Chhaava and the subsequent social media discourse. It also mentioned that the VHP and Bajrang Dal have planned agitations starting March 17, further justifying the restrictions on Ekbote’s movements.
‘We All Also Want The Same Thing, But…’: Fadnavis On Removal Of Aurangzeb’s Tomb
As the calls for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb gain momentum, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has recently backed the call for the removal of the Mughal emperor’s tomb.
“We all also want the same thing, but you need to do it within the framework of the law because it is a protected site. The site was put under ASI’s (Archaeological Survey of India) protection during the Congress regime some years back,” the Chief Minister said, as quoted by PTI.
