Last Updated:
Union Minister and Pune MP, Murlidhar Mahol also told CNN-NEWS18 that the “Chaava” movie had invoked sentiments of the people of Maharashtra and had made people realise how cruelly Aurangzeb had destroyed temples and killed Chatrapati Sambhaji
Mhaske was more aggressive, telling CNN-NEWS18 that he was the one who first raised the demand to remove Aurangzeb’s grave which had now become the sentiment of Maharashtra. (Photo: PTI file)
It all started with Shiv Sena (Shinde) MP from Thane, Naresh Mhaske, raising the matter in Lok Sabha last week that Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra be destroyed as he had brutally killed Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. This was soon after the movie “Chaava” highlighted how Aurangzeb had brutally killed Chatrapati Sambhaji.
The matter has now rocked Maharashtra politics, with communal tension being reported from Nagpur, which is Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ constituency.
Fadnavis on Monday questioned the need to preserve the tomb of the Mughal ruler. Mhaske was more aggressive, telling CNN-NEWS18 that he was the one who first raised the demand to remove Aurangzeb’s grave which had now become the sentiment of Maharashtra. “Aurangzeb looted the nation…why are we spending crores of protecting their graves? Babar, Hamuayun, Aurangzeb – all took the country towards slavery. Aurangzeb destroyed so many temples, he had killed his own father – Aurangzeb’s grave must be removed,” Mhaske told CNN-NEWS18.
VIDEO | Parliament Budget Session: Elucidating on his demand to remove the grave of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb from Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske (@nareshmhaske) says, “I had raised the matter of removing the grave of Aurangzeb, after that, everybody in the country is… pic.twitter.com/Rh7AGXsav3— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2025
Union Minister and Pune MP, Murlidhar Mahol also told CNN-NEWS18 that the “Chaava” movie had invoked sentiments of the people of Maharashtra and had made people realise how cruelly Aurangzeb had destroyed temples and killed Chatrapati Sambhaji.
“On this land of Maharashtra, there is no need for any namo-nishaan (symbol or trace) of Aurangzeb to exist. This is the sentiment of people, and we agree with that,” Mahol told CNN-NEWS18 earlier today. He had claimed that the Maharashtra Police is ready to tackle any law-and-order situation in the state.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction has said that the Aurangzeb grave is a symbol of Maratha victory over Aurangzeb and hence there is no need to remove it. “Uddhav Thackeray is doing this to get vote from minorities and is trying to be their messiah. This is his real face that has been exposed. If he is opposed to Aurangzeb grave’s removal shows he was also opposed to Babri Masjid demolition – that is why he did not go for Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya. This was the real reason,” Mhaske said.
Mahol said Uddhav was sitting in the lap of the Congress and hence it is speaking their language. “Congress has insulted Savarkar so many times, but Uddhav has remained silent. Congress is supporting Aurangzeb and calling him a good ruler,” Mahol said.
