Patna: Bihar Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu has criticised Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav’s support of MLA Abu Azmi over his remarks on Aurangzeb. The BJP leader further asserted that those who speak in support of Azmi are traitors.
“This is very unfortunate and wrong. Aurangzeb looted this country. He was known as a tyrant. So, action was taken against the one who said it. Those who speak in support of him are traitors,” the Bihar Minister told ANI on March 5.
#WATCH | Patna: Bihar Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu says, "…Aurangzeb looted this country. If there is a discussion going on in his favour in Bihar, then it is very sad and worrying. Those who speak in his favour should read history, learn from history and if we glorify… https://t.co/6pe1m4HI8A pic.twitter.com/e5iWDH3NtE
— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2025
Earlier in Wednesday, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing Budget session.
Azmi received the support of Samjawadi Party Chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, who claimed that the suspension violated freedom of expression.
“If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will there be between freedom of expression and subjection? Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by ‘suspension’ one can rein them in, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking,” Akhilesh Yadav said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the other hand launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party and Azmi, seeking his removal from the party.
“Samajwadi Party us (Abu Azmi) kambhakt ko nikalo party se, UP bhej do, baaki upchaar hum apne aap karwa lenge.” (“Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will do his treatment.) said the CM.
“The person who feels ashamed about the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, instead of taking pride and considers Aurangzeb as his idol, does he has the right to stay in our country? Samajwadi Party should answer this. On one hand, you keep blaming Maha Kumbh…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?” added the CM.
AIMIM MLA defends Azmi’s remarks
Meanwhile amid the ruckus over the statement made by Azmi, AIMIM Bihar president and MLA Akhtarul Iman has expressed strong support for Azmi after his suspension from the Assembly over comments on the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
“Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a livelihood by stitching caps. He didn’t use taxpayers’ money on himself. He was buried here. He didn’t loot and leave like the British but he served this country. He unified India, stretching it from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar), and made it ‘Akhand Bharat. He treated both temples and mosques equally,” he said.
#WATCH | Patna: On Maharashtra SP MLA Abu Azmi’s suspension from Assembly over his statement on Aurangzeb, AIMIM Bihar president & MLA Akhtarul Iman says, “BJP has no other work but to have political gains through politics of hatred…Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a… pic.twitter.com/fRRSJHNjzw
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025
Iman also criticized the controversy surrounding the remarks, questioning why such a debate was being stirred up. “So, why such a controversy is being stoked?” he asked. He further condemned the actions taken against Abu Azmi, labeling them as unconstitutional. “The action (against Abu Azmi) is unconstitutional,” Iman remarked, urging the Supreme Court to take suo-motu cognizance of the situation.
Abu Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a “cruel administrator” and “built many temples”. He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim. Azmi later called his suspension “arbitrary” and alleged threats to his life and his family.
(With inputs from ANI)
