‘Govt duty-bound to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb, but won’t allow attempts to glorify his legacy’

 

 

 

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday inaugurated a temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Thane district, and lauded the Maratha king for fighting for ‘Swarajya’ and the country. The Maratha king’s birth anniversary was being celebrated across the state on Monday as per the ‘tithi’. The State Government’s official ‘Shiv Jayanti’ celebrations are held on February 19 each year. Fadnavis said just as Lord Ram’s darshan is incomplete without (paying obeisance to) Hanuman, no pilgrimage is complete without paying respect to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “We are able to worship our gods freely today because of Shivaji Maharaj’s efforts. He fought for Swarajya, for God, for our country, and our religion,” he said.

 

On the occasion, Fadnavis also addressed the ongoing discourse about historical monuments in Maharashtra, particularly the demand from some right-wing outfits for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb at Khuldabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Fadnavis said while the Government is obligated to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb as a declared protected site, its preservation is a matter of historical record rather than reverence. He said only the temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj deserves “mahima mandan” (glorification) and not the tomb of Aurangzeb.

 

“It is unfortunate that the Government has to take responsibility for the protection of Aurangzeb’s grave, despite his history of persecution. However, I assure you, if any attempt is made to glorify his legacy through ‘mahima mandan’, it will not succeed,” the CM said. Fadnavis further said even though Shivaji died at an early age, his contribution to the society has helped the people follow his legacy. Maharashtra has lived up to the expectations and it is evident from the approach of the people the state, he said.