Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 4 : Shiv Sena's Maharashtra MLA Nilesh Narayan Rane on Tuesday came down heavily against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, for his remarks calling Aurangzeb a "good administrator."
"Abu Azmi has lost his mental balance. He does not know Maharashtra's history, and he is disrespecting our Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He should apologise, but just an apology is not enough," the Shiv Sena MLA told ANI.
The Mahayuti MLA further demanded Azmi's resignation, saying that the SP leader has repeatedly made "nonsense" remarks for grabbing headlines.
"He should either be asked to resign or suspended and only then will he learn his lesson. He keeps speaking nonsense to stay in the headlines, but now we will not tolerate it," Rane added.
SP leader and Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi kicked up a political storm earlier for calling the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb a "good administrator," drawing strong criticism from various leaders. The SP leader Abu Azmi has since retracted his statement, saying that his words had been twisted and misinterpreted.
"My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have claimed about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Ali," read Azmi's X post.
"I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any other great men - but still if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement," Azmi added.
Earlier today, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath demanded a sedition case against Abu Azmi for his remarks.
"We condemn the murderer of Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, i.e. Aurangzeb whose melodies the Assembly member Abu Azmi sings," Shinde said.
Expressing his respect for Sambhaji Maharaj, the deputy CM added, "I salute Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the protector of religion and freedom, and his bravery. Although people like Abu Azmi live in India physically, they live in the Mughals in their minds. They have nothing to do with the history and culture of the country. The world knows what kind of ruler Aurangzeb was. Aurangzeb was cruel. What a great administrator he was. We condemn the Pilawali who is aiding such monsters."
A zero FIR was registered against Abu Azmi in the Naupada Police Station of Thane and was transferred to Marine Drive police station in Mumbai in connection with his remarks on Aurangzeb.