Tomb Of Aurangzeb Becomes Flashpoint: Violence, Curfew In Nagpur

Photo: Rana Safvi

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Nagpur after clashes erupted over demands to remove the tomb of 17th-century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, injuring more than a dozen police officers, officials said. The violence on March 17 saw vehicles torched, homes and shops vandalized, and nearly 40 people wounded, including at least 15 police personnel—one of whom is in serious condition.

Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad burned an effigy of Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting slogans demanding its removal from Aurangabad, according to police. In response, several members of Muslim groups marched near a police station, pelting stones at security forces.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the violence in a video statement, urging efforts to maintain law and order. The VHP denied involvement in the clashes but reiterated its demand to replace Aurangzeb’s tomb with a memorial for Maratha rulers.

Amid the unrest, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray questioned the need for a confrontation over a historical figure who died over 300 years ago. “If you want, you can remove his grave… but call Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar,” he quipped, referencing BJP allies in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, where Muslim votes hold political significance ahead of next year’s elections, NDTV reported.

Thackeray further pointed out, NDTV said, the irony of targeting Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra when the ruler was actually born in Gujarat.

His son, Aaditya Thackeray, also criticized the BJP, stating, “They are trying to dig up history but cannot speak about the present or future… The irony is, the grave is protected by the central government.”

Aurangzeb’s tomb, a historical site under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India, has been a contentious issue, with the Chief Minister acknowledging the demand for its removal but stressing that any action must be taken within legal boundaries, NDTV noted.