National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has alleged
that the Uttar Pradesh government is attempting to erase the historical legacy
of the Mughals by renaming places.
“They want to erase the history of the Mughals, but that
won’t happen. The Mughals lived here for centuries and are even buried in this
land,” Abdullah said, as reported by PTI.
Controversy Over Aurangzeb’s Legacy
The controversy was sparked by Maharashtra Samajwadi Party
MLA Abu Azmi, who praised Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, calling him a “good
administrator” and claiming that India prospered under his reign. His
remarks drew sharp criticism from the ruling BJP, leading to his suspension
from the Maharashtra assembly. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil
moved the resolution for his suspension.
In response, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
criticized the Samajwadi Party for not addressing the controversy. Without
directly naming Azmi, Adityanath stated that such individuals should be
expelled from the party.
"Send him to UP; we know how to handle such people.
It won’t take us long," Adityanath remarked.
Yogi Adityanath’s Stand on the Issue
The Uttar Pradesh CM accused the Samajwadi Party of
disregarding India’s cultural heritage and straying from the ideals of its
ideological leader, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
"Lohia considered Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, and Lord
Shiva as the unifying pillars of India. However, the SP today is glorifying a
ruler like Aurangzeb," Adityanath asserted.
Referring to historical records, the CM pointed out that
Aurangzeb had imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan, at Agra Fort and deprived him
of basic necessities, including water. He also suggested that SP leaders should
visit the library in Patna to read Shah Jahan’s biography, which, according to
him, includes a statement where the Mughal emperor supposedly told Aurangzeb, "A
Hindu is better than you because they serve their parents while they are alive
and honor them after their death."
This debate over historical narratives and political
ideologies continues to stir tensions between parties, with both sides standing
firm on their perspectives.