Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 17: Congress leader Bhai Jagtap on Monday strongly opposed demands for the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra, calling it an attempt to distort history and undermine the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Jagtap asserted that Aurangzeb’s burial site is part of Maharashtra’s historical landscape and erasing it would mean disregarding the region’s rich past.

Speaking to IANS, Jagtap questioned the rationale behind such demands. “What purpose does uprooting history serve? This is nothing but an attempt to erase Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy. Similar efforts have been made before, such as hiding the Samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj in Raigad for centuries, which was later rediscovered by Mahatma Phule. Now, another chapter of our history is under attack,” he stated.

He highlighted Shivaji Maharaj’s significant victories over Aurangzeb, noting that while Aurangzeb had conquered vast parts of India, it was Shivaji Maharaj who resisted him fiercely and changed the course of history. "The fact that Aurangzeb was buried in Maharashtra is a historical reality, and we should acknowledge it rather than destroy it," Jagtap remarked.

Jagtap cautioned that destroying Aurangzeb’s grave could set a dangerous precedent of erasing crucial parts of Maharashtra’s past. He drew parallels with Shivaji Maharaj’s decision to memorialize Afzal Khan’s betrayal at Pratapgarh by ensuring that his body was buried there. "History should be remembered, not erased. It is a testimony to bravery, sacrifice, and struggle," he said.

Responding to recent remarks by Maharashtra Congress leader Harshvardhan Sapkal, who had compared Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Aurangzeb, Jagtap clarified that Sapkal was not making a personal attack but drawing a historical analogy regarding governance.

Jagtap concluded by urging all political factions to respect history, irrespective of differing views. "History, even if controversial, must be preserved. Destroying monuments or graves for ideological reasons only weakens our understanding of the past," he said.