Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has backed a call by right-wing groups to demolish the 18th century tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Khuldabad near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
However, Fadnavis added that the task was not as simple as driving a wrecking crane over the tomb. The monument, which has been turned into a dargah, with visitors offering chadars, flowers, and perfume at the grave, is listed as a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India. The tomb is part of a necropolis with many historical tombs.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: On the removal of Aurangzeb's grave, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, "Not just us, but everyone feels that the grave should be removed. However, some actions must be taken as per the law. The grave was granted protected status during the Congress era… pic.twitter.com/DXVKDWf4k9
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Groups like the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti have been campaigning for the destruction of the tomb. Sunil Ghanwat of the HJS of the group has accused the government of discrimination when it comes to maintenance of monuments associated with Maratha history.
According to Ghanwat, while the government's archaeology spends more than Rs two lakhs annually on Aurangzeb's tomb, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's temple at Sindhudurg Fort gets a monthly assistance of Rs 250. "The central archaeology department spends lakhs on maintaining Aurangzeb's tomb, but neglects the temple of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," said Ghanwat whose group has been been the '#Bulldoze_Aurangzeb_Tomb' campaign on microblogging site X.
Despite the rhetoric for the erasure of Aurangzeb's controversy legacy - Aurangabad , the city named after the emperor is now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar - the tomb's protected status means there will be legal hurdles if the monument is to be demolished by following the process of law.
Archeologists said that the government will have to delist the tomb if it has to be destroyed. "As far as I know something like this has never happened," said Suraj Pandit, Professor and Head, Department of Ancient Indian Culture and Department of Buddhist Studies, Sathaye College, Mumbai.
Historians said that the tomb should remain as it represents an era in Indian history. "I was appalled when I heard about the calls to destroy Aurangzeb's tomb. If we try to get rid of every piece of history we do not like, there is no end to it," said Dr Mariam Dossal, former head of department of history, University of Mumbai. "Aurangzeb died in 1707. We have moved on since then. And to think that Aurangzeb is the person we are focussing on."
A BJP spokesperson who gave his comments on the issue in a television debate said that those who want the tomb to be demolished will 'have to work on its legal status', adding that many monuments dedicated to Communist leaders Lenin and Stalin were brought down after the fall of the Soviet Union.
According to Pandit, the Chief Minister had made a clear statement about what he thought could be done with the tomb. "What he meant was though people think it should be done (demolished), it cannot be done because it is the central government's protection. There are similar structures around the tomb," Pandit added. "We know it is a political statement. It is far-fetched to think the monument will be delisted and demolished."
Ghanwat said the Chief Minister's statement was constrained by political compulsions. "The government removed two-and-half acres of encroachment around Afzal Khan’s (General of Bijapur Sultanate) tomb near Pratapgad,” he said.