In a significant development that came a day after he came in a severe flak from members of both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was on Wednesday suspended from the State Legislative Assembly for the entire budget session for eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil moved a motion seeking suspension of Azmi, a four-time MLA, for the remainder of the ongoing budget session. During the discussion that followed, senior ruling BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar upped the ante and rooted for the termination of Azmi’s membership.
Later, Speaker Rahul Narwekar put the motion seeking Azmi’s suspension moved by Patil to voice vote which was adopted unanimously by the House. Following the adoption of the motion, the SP MLA will remain suspended till the remainder of the budget session which will end on March 26.
Earlier, speaking on the motion seeking suspension of Azmi from the House, Patil said that the Samajwadi Party MLA had described Aurangzeb as “an able administrator” and made an objectionable remark about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of iconic Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “In the process, Azmi tarnished the image of the State Assembly. Taking serious cognisance of his questionable remarks, Azmi should be suspended from the House till the last day of the ongoing Assembly session,” the minister said.
"My suspension is nothing but injustice done not just to me but to the millions of people whom I represent... I would like to ask the government whether two types of laws are followed in the state? One law for Abu Azmi and another law for Prashant Koratkar and Rahul Sholapurkar,"Azmi said in a video post on X.
"I have said whatever historians and writers have claimed about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Ali... I have not made any derogatory comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj. But still, if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement," Azmi said
Azmi said that his side should have been heard before ordering his suspension. “I will approach the Speaker for remedy. I will also explore avenues where I can get justice,” he said.
Azmi’s suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly evoked strong reactions – both in his defence and against him. Slamming the Maharashtra Assembly’s decision to suspend Azmi, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X, he said: “If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and slavery”.
In his defence of Azmi, Azmi said: “Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by 'suspension' one can put a rein on the tongue of truth, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking. Today's free thinking person says, `we don't want BJP!'"
Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said: “I want to tell Samajwadi Party leaders that they believe in the thoughts of the person in whose name you do politics. Today, the Samajwadi Party is moving away from the principles of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. They have made Aurangzeb their idol….Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will provide him necessary treatment….The person who feels ashamed about the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, instead of taking pride and considers Aurangzeb as his idol, does he have the right to stay in our country?”
“On one hand, you keep blaming Mahakumbh; on the other hand, you praise a person like Aurangzeb, who destroyed the temples of the country. Why can't you control that MLA of yours? Why didn't you condemn his statement?,” Adityanath said.
In the heated debate that took place in both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature on Tuesday, Shinde dubbed Azmi as a descendent of Aurangzeb. Members in both the Houses came down heavily on the controversial Mughal emperor who, they said, tortured Sambhaji Maharaj and brutally killed him. Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde led the attack on Azmi both the State Assembly and Council.
The members claimed Azmi was a descendent of Aurangzeb, who tortured Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and brutally killed him. Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde led the attack on Azmi both in the legislative council and assembly.
Speaking in the Upper House, Shinde said: "Abu Azmi is purposely insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and (his son) Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Sambhaji's Maharaj's bravery and Aurangzeb's cruelty will give goose-bumps to people".
“Aurangzeb tortured Sambhaji Maharaj in an inhuman way. Abu Azmi referred to Aurangzeb as an able administrator who built temples but he razed Kashi Vishveshwar temple. The Mughal emperor not only killed Hindus but also people from other religions,” Shinde said.
"Aurangzeb lost even after he won, but Sambhaji, through his bravery, won even after his sacrifice. He (Aurangzeb) was a demon.Even a true Muslim will not forgive the progeny of traitors. It is wrong to eulogise Aurangzeb," Shinde said, as he demanded the termination of the membership of Azmi whom he called a “traitor”.