Calls to Demolish Aurangzeb’s Tomb Escalate Political and Communal Tensions in Maharashtra

Right-wing groups demand the removal of the Mughal emperor's tomb, while critics warn against erasing history and inflaming divisions.

Right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Parishad (VHP), have threatened 'karseva' to demolish Aurangzeb’s tomb if the government does not act.
The tomb, located in Khuldabad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is a protected site under the Archaeological Survey of India, complicating calls for its removal.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed support for the demand but emphasized that any action must follow legal procedures.
Critics, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress leaders, argue that removing the tomb would distort history and undermine Maharashtra’s legacy of resilience against oppression.
Heightened security measures have been implemented at the site to prevent unrest, with police and State Reserve Police Force units deployed for round-the-clock monitoring.