Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday demanded that Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi be charged with treason for eulogizing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who brutally tortured Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Hours after Shinde’s statement, an FIR was filed against Azmi in Thane, the political turf of the Deputy CM, on a complaint of Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske for attempting to hurt religious feelings.
Azmi, who is the Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra president, said during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday demanded that Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi be charged with treason for eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who brutally tortured Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Hours after Shinde’s statement, an FIR was filed against Azmi in Thane, the political turf of the Deputy CM, on a complaint of Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske for attempting to hurt religious feelings.
Azmi, who is the Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra president, said during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).
He said Sambhaji Maharaj was tortured for 40 days by the Mughal Emperor during which his eyes were gouged out, fingers ripped off, skinned alive and tongue cut.
“It is a big crime to call such a person good. So Azmi should apologize. The CM has taken a serious view of it. He (Azmi) has insulted patriots. This is an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his warrior-son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj…they are our national icons and this is their insult. He (SP legislator) should be booked for treason,” the Shiv Sena leader demanded.
A recent Hindi film, ‘Chhaava’, has documented the bravery and sacrifice of Sambhaji Maharaj.
Meanwhile, members of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena filed two complaints against Azmi in Mumbai and adjoining Thane city. An FIR was subsequently registered in Thane.
In Thane, the FIR was registered against the Samajwadi Party leader at the Wagle Estate police station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint by Mhaske.
The FIR was lodged under BNS section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs). 302 (Uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 356(1) & 356(2) (defamation).
A police officer said an investigation was underway.
The complaint in Mumbai was filed at the Marine Drive Police Station, officials said.
Shiv Sena supporters led by their functionary Kiran Pawaskar went to the Marine Drive Police Station and demanded action against Azmi for his remarks.
A written complaint was submitted to Marine Drive Police demanding a case against MLA Azmi, an official said.
Police are taking detailed information about MLA Azmi’s remarks, and further course of action will be decided as per the law, he said.
