Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has been suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the ongoing session over his controversial remarks glorifying Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The suspension motion was presented by Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, while BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar demanded that Azmi’s membership be revoked entirely, stating that suspending him for just one session was insufficient.
Mungantiwar asserted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is revered, and anyone insulting him should not be easily forgiven.
Can Abu Azmi Be Permanently Suspended?
Chandrakant Patil clarified that, as per a Supreme Court ruling, MLAs cannot be suspended for more than one session. He added that a committee will be formed to examine whether Abu Azmi can be permanently disqualified from his membership in the Assembly.
Azmi’s Defense and Clarification
Following the controversy, Azmi defended his remarks, stating that he merely reiterated what historians had documented about Aurangzeb. “I can never think of speaking against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj. My words have been misrepresented,” he claimed.
“I only mentioned what historians and authors have written about Aurangzeb,” he added. Azmi maintained that he had never uttered anything disrespectful about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any other great personalities.
“I Do Not Consider Aurangzeb a Cruel or Intolerant Ruler”
Azmi stated, “If my words have hurt anyone, I unconditionally apologize and withdraw my statement.” His remarks have led to a case being registered against him in Thane.
Notably, Azmi had previously said, “I do not consider 17th-century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb a cruel, tyrannical, or intolerant ruler. His image has been distorted through films.”
The Maharashtra Assembly’s budget session is set to conclude on March 26.
