BJP MLA Raja Singh calls for demolition of Aurangzeb's grave
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Maharashtra: BJP MLA Raja Singh has called for the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave and challenged his party to expel him over his remarks. Addressing a gathering in Pune, Maharashtra, on Sunday, March 16, the Telangana legislator asserted that there should be no politics over the grave and urged for its destruction. “There should be no politics on Aurangzeb’s grave; instead, it should be trampled using a bulldozer,” he declared.
Singh, who represents the Goshamahal constituency, stated that he was no longer interested in politics and was now solely focused on establishing India as a Hindu Rashtra. “I have been an MLA thrice. I have no interest in continuing in politics. Now, my only resolution is to make India a Hindu Rashtra, to fight a war for it, to prepare Hindu armies in every state, and to demolish Aurangzeb’s grave,” he said.
Daring his party to act against him, Singh added, “If someone has an objection to this, they can remove me from the party.” He also questioned why the ruling government in Maharashtra had not yet demolished the grave despite its leaders’ apparent willingness to do so. “Just declare the date,” he said, demanding action.
The debate over Aurangzeb has resurfaced following the release of the Bollywood film 'Chhaava', which portrays the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. Sambhaji was captured and brutally tortured to death by Aurangzeb’s forces. Singh claimed that since the film’s release, people across India have been questioning the existence of Aurangzeb’s tomb, citing his history of forced religious conversions and temple demolitions.
Criticizing BJP leaders for failing to take decisive action, Singh alleged that the people of Maharashtra were unwilling to accept further delays. “The Hindus of Maharashtra voted for Bhagwa (saffron flag), and now they want all traces of Aurangzeb erased. When will his grave be destroyed?” he asked.
He praised the karyakartas (workers) of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, who reportedly vowed to take matters into their own hands if the government failed to act.
Raja Singh was previously suspended from the BJP in August 2022 for making provocative remarks against Prophet Mohammed, leading to backlash from several Muslim-majority nations. A similar controversy erupted earlier when former BJP member Nupur Sharma made remarks that drew condemnation from countries like Iran, Indonesia, Jordan, Afghanistan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
On Monday, March 17, Singh visited the tomb of Sambhaji Maharaj and paid his respects, reinforcing his stance on the matter.