A row sparked in the Maharashtra Assembly over remarks made by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The controversy intensified with the suspension of Azmi after his comments. The issue also led to a revisit of Jawaharlal Nehru’s views on Aurangzeb from his book Discovery of India, highlighting his perspective on the Mughal ruler’s reign and policies.

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• Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb as a “good administrator,” stating that India prospered under his rule.
• Azmi’s comments were made amidst the controversy over the movie Chhaava, which focuses on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
• Azmi defended Aurangzeb’s rule, saying he built temples and dismissed claims of cruelty in his administration.
• The MLA also claimed India’s economy accounted for 24% of global GDP during Aurangzeb’s reign, referring to India as a “golden bird.”
• Samajwadi Party MLA Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for his controversial remarks on Aurangzeb.
• Azmi questioned the fairness of laws, asking if two different standards were applied in the state.
• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis challenged Opposition parties to also condemn Nehru’s views on Aurangzeb.
• Jawaharlal Nehru’s book Discovery of India described Aurangzeb as a “bigot” and a “puritan,” criticizing his policies like the imposition of the jizya tax on Hindus and the destruction of temples.
• Nehru also stated that Aurangzeb alienated Rajputs, Sikhs, and Marathas with his oppressive policies.
• The controversy brings historical perspectives into the present-day debate over the legacy of figures like Aurangzeb, Shivaji Maharaj, and Sambhaji Maharaj.