Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reacted sharply to the suspension of party MLA Abu Azmi from the Maharashtra Assembly over his recent controversial remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
In a post on X, Akhilesh slammed the action against Abu Azmi, saying, “If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and slavery."
Defending the SP MLA, he 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 says, we don’t want BJP!,” he added.
In a video statement released by his office, Azmi asserted he had not said anything wrong, but retracted the remark, which he made outside the assembly, to ensure the House functions. “Still, I was suspended,” he said.
Azmi, state president of Maharashtra unit of the Samajwadi Party, had said that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).
His comments rocked both houses of the state legislature on Tuesday, with members of the ruling side demanding his suspension and that he be booked for treason.