Ahmednagar: The prevailed communal tensions in the Mirajgaon area of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar followed by a video shared by a youth depicting a group of youngsters carrying a poster of Aurangzeb during a procession prompted temporary shop closures in protest against the incident.
The controversial video quickly gained attention, prompting the local police to register a case against the youth under Section 505(II) of the Indian Penal Code, citing statements promoting enmity and ill-will between communities.
Adding fuel to the already communally charged situation BJP leaders are embroiled in a war of words involving historical figures. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis invoked the sons of Aurangzeb, while BJP leader Nilesh Rane compared Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar to Aurangzeb's reincarnation, intensifying the already charged atmosphere in the state.
Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home Ministry charge, expressed his concerns about the recent riot-like situations in Maharashtra. He claimed that certain leaders of the Muslim community were glorifying Aurangzeb and blamed them for the communal unrest in the state.
Fadnavis said that "Aurangzeb's auladein (progenies)" had taken birth in Maharashtra, adding to the ongoing controversy surrounding the historical figure.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Nilesh Rane, son of Union Minister Narayan Rane, launched a scathing attack on Sharad Pawar. In a tweet, Rane suggested that during election times, Pawar becomes excessively concerned about Muslims, raising questions about whether Pawar was a reincarnation of Aurangzeb himself.
Rane's comment triggered strong reactions from opposition parties, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioning the BJP's ethical standards and NCP MLA Amol Mitkari labelling Rane a "chameleon." Congress leaders also condemned Rane's remark, deeming it highly objectionable.
Rane's remarks drew strong reactions from opposition parties, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioning the BJP's ethical standards and NCP MLA Amol Mitkari labelling BJP a "chameleon."
Congress leaders also condemned Rane's statement, deeming it highly objectionable.
Amidst the rising tensions, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of exploiting historical figures for political gain. Raut alleged that the saffron party was deliberately using Aurangzeb's persona to manipulate public sentiment.
He further claimed that the recent communal clashes in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, were orchestrated by outsiders and insinuated that the BJP's ideology seemed weak if they felt threatened by the presence of a mere photograph.
These incidents, occurring against the backdrop of several districts in Maharashtra experiencing heightened communal tensions, have raised concerns about the stability and harmony of the state.