Union Minister defends Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has spoken out against calls to remove the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He emphasized that this cemetery has existed for about 500-600 years and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Athawale stated that the demand for demolition is not justified and urged for peace in Maharashtra. Tensions escalated recently in Nagpur due to protests by groups demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. This led to violent incidents, resulting in multiple arrests. One notable arrest was Hamid Engineer, from the Minorities Democratic Party, who was taken into custody amid the unrest. Authorities have reported that 99 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, and they promise a thorough investigation. The Congress Party has formed a group to visit Nagpur and connect with affected residents. Senior Congress leader Manikrao Thakare criticized the ruling BJP, suggesting that the violence stemmed from negligence by both central and state governments. He noted that such incidents were rare in Nagpur and that prompt police action was lacking. Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, condemned the violence as serious. He warned that strict actions would be taken against those who assaulted police officers during the protests. Kadam's comments reflect the urgency in restoring order after the recent chaos.