Lucknow, March 5, 2025 — A political storm has erupted following the praise for Mughal emperor Aurangzeb by Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and from various quarters levelled sharp criticism on this account. On the floor of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, Adityanath fulminated against Azmi’s statements and also called on the SP leadership to act more decisively.
The Fiery Reply from Adityanath On a scathing note, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his dismay of Abu Azmi glorifying Aurangzeb, a man always associated with the destruction of temples and persecution of certain communities.
“That Samajwadi Party, unfortunately, treats Aurangzeb as its ideal. Not even Aurangzeb’s father, Shah Jahan, said in his autobiography that he wished that no one would be burdened with such a wretched son,” remarked Adityanath further challenging Akhilesh Yadav, SP president, to expel Azmi from the party:
“Remove that fellow from the Samajwadi Party and send him to Uttar Pradesh; we will send him for his ‘upchaar’.” Background of Controversy Azmi had the brazen audacity to praise the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as a brave ruler during a public event for expanding the Mughal Empire.
The comments did not sit well with most people, particularly the BJP and other rightist organizations that consider Aurangzeb a tyrant responsible for various forms of atrocities on Hindus and for destroying temples.
Those in Modi’s party have used Azmi’s statements to accuse the SP of week or anti-national feelings. They demand that Akhilesh Yadav makes clear statements on the case and dissociate from Azmi’s remarks; failure to do so would mean they accept Azmi’s views tacitly.
Yadav saw in Azmi’s support questioning of his suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly and asserted that the truth will never be able to be quenched. His support suggests the SP’s stance on freedom of expression and its resistance to what it understands to be political vendettas.
Historical Background Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal emperor
He ruled from 1658 to 1707, though his reign is characterized as perhaps the most memorable by policies of expansion and the establishment of the Islamic law. He is a very controversial ruler of the Indian history: some regard him as very capable in administration while others criticize him for being intolerant in the face of religions and demolishing Hindu temples. It is a question of emotive and political debate in contemporary India.
Implications for the Samajwadi Party
This is an embarrassing situation for the SP. It must find a balance between its commitment to secularism and freedom of expression, on the one hand, and the fact that it risks alienating a substantial portion of the electorate that looks upon Aurangzeb negatively. The BJP, invariably the aggressor, hopes to corner the SP into clarifying its stand on historical figures and national identity.
The flare-up over Abu Azmi’s comments on Aurangzeb reinforces the continuing suspicion of Indian historical narratives and their potential implications for current politics. There will be reactions and decisions in the next few days that are likely to shape the discourse on history, identity, and nationalism in the country.
