Political temperature is rising in Maharashtra over a vehement demand by the right-wing organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, for the demolition of the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Khuldabad near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (erstwhile Aurangabad).

 Ahead of the Shivaji Jayanti celebrated on Monday as per the Hindu tithi, the police had beefed up the security around the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Khuldabad to ensure against any untoward incidents at the tomb complex. However, the day passed off peacefully. 

The enhanced security came in the wake of the noisy demonstrations organised by the VHP demanding the demolition of the tomb. Aurangzeb died on March 3, 1707 at the age of 88 years at his army camp in Ahmednagar and was later laid to rest in Khuldabad in a bare, non-decrepit, open-air tomb as per his own wishes, which is frequently visited by many despite brouhaha at regular intervals by certain political parties. On their part, the VHP and Bajrangt Dal have not announced any timeline for the demolition of the tomb of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, which is an unmarked grave in a dargah-complex. The tomb is currently under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

 The leaders of the two right-wing organisations, which have threatened to crusade for the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb by launching ‘Babri Masjid-type’ agitation, have said that they are giving time to the Centre and State government to act and remove Aurangzeb’s tomb. They have indicated that if both the Centre and state government fail to act on their demand, kar-sevaks would demolish the tomb.

 The contentious issue rocked the Maharashtra Assembly during the ongoing budget session of the State Legislature.  Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the tomb of Aurangzeb was under the protection of the ASI. “It is the state’s duty to protect the tomb. However, we will not tolerate the glorification of Aurangzeb,” Fadnavis said, after dedicating a temple in the honour of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

 In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister recently, the VHP called Aurangzeb’s grave as “a symbol of pain and slavery”, citing Aurangzeb’s persecution of Marathas and Sikhs, and destruction of temples in Kashi, Mathura, and Somnath.

 “Aurangzeb ordered the execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and two sons of Guru Gobind Singh. No memorial of such a ruler should be allowed to exist,” the VHP stated, as it warned that if the Centre failed to act, its workers would have no other alternative but to march to the tomb site and pull it down themselves.

Not to be outdone, another right-wing organisation Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has asked the government to stop financial aid for upkeep of the tomb. Not wanting to take any chances, the staff posted at the tomb screened the visitors and checked their identity cards before letting them inside the tomb complex.