Overview

• Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi has been suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the remainder of the budget session following his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
• Azmi described Aurangzeb as a 'good administrator,' which led to accusations of treason and demands for legal action from ruling coalition leaders, including Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
• Multiple FIRs have been filed against Azmi under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and defaming historical figures like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
• Azmi has since retracted his comments, stating they were based on historical accounts and misinterpreted, and apologized if his statements hurt anyone’s sentiments.
• Opposition leaders, including Congress, have accused the BJP of using the controversy to divert attention from governance issues during the state’s budget session.