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Maharashtra

Under fire Abu Azmi retracts objectionable remarks on Aurangzeb

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Mumbai, March 4: Abu Azmi, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and party unit’s chief in Maharashtra, on Tuesday withdrew his controversial remarks in praise of tyrant Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, after facing intense backlash from leaders across all parties.

Azmi clarified that his statements were “twisted” and that he had no intention of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

Azmi had earlier sparked a political firestorm by asserting that Aurangzeb was “not a cruel leader.” His remarks were widely condemned, with critics accusing him of insulting revered Maratha figures. Many leaders called him “anti-national” and demanded a case of sedition being registered against him.

Following the uproar, Azmi posted a video on X defending his position.

“Yesterday, on March 3, when the Assembly ended and I came out, the media told me that the Chief Minister of Assam had compared Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb. In response, I spoke about Aurangzeb, but my words were blown out of proportion as if a storm had come. I have not insulted anyone,” he said.

He further emphasised his respect for national icons, stating, “I respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, and all great men who stood for equality in society.”

Clarifying his comments on Aurangzeb, Azmi said, “When I quoted a historian’s book about Aurangzeb, I never spoke ill of any of our great men. But if my statements, which have been distorted, have offended anyone, I take them back. The Assembly has important work to do, and it should not be disrupted over this issue.”

Azmi’s retraction came after an FIR was filed against him at Thane’s Wagle Estate Police Station on a complaint by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske. He has been booked under Sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the case has since been transferred to Marine Drive Police Station.

The controversy erupted when Azmi, addressing reporters in Mumbai at the start of the Maharashtra Assembly session, responded to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s comparison of Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee to Aurangzeb.

“Aurangzeb got several temples built. In Varanasi, he saved a Hindu girl from a priest who had an evil eye on her. He had the priest trampled by elephants,” Azmi had claimed.

He had further stated, “I don’t consider Aurangzeb a cruel ruler. During that era, power struggles were political, not religious. Aurangzeb’s army had many Hindus, just as Chhatrapati Shivaji’s army had several Muslims.”

Maharashtra

Big decision of Shani Shingnapur Devasthan, 167 employees dismissed, including 114 Muslim employees

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Ahilyanagar: Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahilyanagar has taken a big decision. 167 employees working at Shani Devasthan have been dismissed from work. Among the dismissed employees were 114 Muslim employees. Shani Devasthan has given an explanation that the employees were dismissed due to irregularities and non-compliance with discipline. 

Meanwhile, for the past few days, Hindu organizations had been pressuring the Muslim employees to be fired. On the fourth day of Shani Dev, a protest was held on behalf of the entire Hindu community due to the work being done by Muslim people. 

A warning was given that a large march would be taken out by the entire Hindu community outside the temple on June 14.

The controversy had escalated over the appointment of Muslim employees at the famous religious place Shri Kshetra Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahilyanagar district. Hindu organizations have become aggressive against the 114 Muslim employees working at the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust. The organization demanded that the trust immediately remove all Muslim employees from work. Otherwise, it had also warned that a big march would be taken out by the entire Hindu community outside the temple on June 14. 

On May 21, 2025, Muslim craftsmen installed a grill on the holy platform of the temple and cleaned and painted the platform of Lord Shani. The matter had heated up even more then. As soon as the information about this incident came to light, the Maharashtra Temple Federation and Hindu organizations raised strong objections. After that, the temple’s board of trustees has decided to remove all Muslim employees. The temple trust had given a clarification in this regard, according to which it has admitted that 114 Muslim employees work in the trust. However, according to the trust, none of these Muslim employees are on duty in the main sanctum or on the platform of the temple. These employees are mainly working in the agriculture department, waste management department and education-related work. Out of these, 99 employees have been absent from work for the last five months and their salaries have also been stopped. The remaining 15 employees have been serving for many years, some of whom have more than 20 years of experience. Hindu organizations were aggressive in demanding the dismissal of 114 Muslim employees working at the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust. They had also warned of taking out a protest tomorrow (June 14) in this regard. 

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Maharashtra

One arrested from Dombivali with firearms

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Mumbai: Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has claimed to have seized 4 country-made pistols and 35 live cartridges worth Rs 7.5 lakh from a suspect who was coming to sell weapons. The ATS had received information that a 35-year-old man was going to sell weapons on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Dombivali, adjoining Mumbai. The ATS team laid a trap and searched him and recovered 3 country-made pistols and 35 live cartridges from his possession. A case has been registered against the accused at ATS Kala Chowki under other sections including the Arms Act. The accused was also arrested with a firearm during technical investigation. So far, the police have recovered 4 firearms, 35 live cartridges and 2 migraines, which are said to be worth Rs 7.5 lakh. Further investigation is underway.

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Maharashtra

After occupying the Dargah in a village of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, what is the social boycott of Muslims doing?

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Mumbai: After occupying an ancient shrine of Ramzan Ali Shah Baba in the Goha area of ​​Ahmednagar, Maharashtra and installing an idol there, a social boycott of Muslims is now being imposed here. If any non-Muslim in the village buys, sells or transacts with the Muslims of the village, the non-Muslim mischievous elements here impose a fine on him. Such an undemocratic and immoral environment has been going on in Maharashtra under the nose of the BBJP government since 2023, and the government has remained a silent spectator.

Such an expression was expressed by Tushar Gandhi at a meeting organized by an organization called ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’ at Mumbai’s Islam Gymkhana under the leadership of Maulana Syed Moinuddin Ashraf alias Moin Mian. Former Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, former MIM MLA Waris Pathan, Nizamuddin Raein, social activist Feroz Methi Borwala, Javed Janeja, Saeed Noori and other socio-political and national figures were present at that time. Where it was decided that soon a delegation would meet the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and both Deputy Chief Ministers, besides the leaders of all political parties, on this issue.

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