BJP, Shiv Sena slam Akbaruddin Owaisi over visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb

Akbaruddin Owaisi's visit to the tomb of Aurangzeb at Khuldabad in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district has sparked a row with the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slamming the AIMIM leader.

Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi had insulted "nationalist Muslims" of the country by trying to glorify Aurangzeb.

"Owaisi has attempted to glorify Aurangzeb and, thus, has insulted the nationalist Muslims in this country. Aurangzeb can never be an idol for Muslims in this country. He had tortured Sambhajiraje before killing him," Devendra Fadnavis said.

“We will not tolerate anything that glorifies Aurangzeb in any way. Those who are trying to do so should face some action. If someone clicks a photograph in Lilavati hospital (referring to images of Independent MP Navneet Rana in the MRI room), this state government immediately rushes to act but does nothing in this matter," the former chief minister added.

ALSO READ: Loudspeaker row | Don’t test our patience: Raj Thackeray tells Maharashtra CM

The Shiv Sena also hit out at Akbaruddin Owaisi over his visit to the Mughal emperor’s tomb.

Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said Aurangzeb fought against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and after his death with the Marathas for 25 years. Sanjay Raut claimed that by offering namaz at Aurangzeb's tomb, the Owaisi brothers (Akbaruddin and Asaduddin) were challenging Maharashtra.

"Owaisi brothers are doing politics with an aim to vitiate the atmosphere of Maharashtra. We have accepted this challenge. We buried Aurangzeb in this soil. His (Aurangzeb) followers, who want to do politics, will meet the same fate in Maharashtra," Sanjay Rau said.

ALSO READ: If there is a scratch on Raj Thackeray: Bala Nandgaonkar warns after death threat against MNS chief

Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Lok Sabha MP Imtiaz Jaleel said there was no need to draw a "different meaning" out of Akbaruddin Owaisi’s visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb.

"Anyone who comes to Khuldabad visits the tomb of Aurangzeb. There is no need to draw a different meaning out of this," he said.

Maharashtra Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant took a swipe at the BJP for demanding action against Akbaruddin Owaisi.

"BJP leaders should explain under which section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) can a person be booked for visiting a grave," Sawant said.

He demanded to know what action against BJP veteran L K Advani for visiting the grave of Jinnah in Pakistan. "Also, what action was taken against Nitish Kumar for visiting Jinnah's tomb?" he asked.

"Shivaji Maharaj built Afzal Khan's grave after killing him. This is Maharashtra's culture," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ: Owaisi calls for cameras at mosques amid recent communal clashes in Delhi, MP