Aurangzeb's tomb removal demand causes chaos in Maharashtra, Bajrang Dal leaders stage protests

On March 17, members of the Bajrang Dal staged a protest in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb`s tomb located in Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad). The demonstrators were seen raising slogans against the government, calling for action on the matter. The protest comes after Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan made a public demand for the removal of Aurangzeb`s tomb in the region. This call for action has been supported by other political and religious groups, including Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam. Nirupam backed the demand from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the tomb`s removal, stating that such a demand was not unreasonable given the ongoing debate in the country over Aurangzeb’s historical actions. In response to the protests and growing tension around the issue, security forces have been deployed at the site of Aurangzeb`s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to maintain law and order. This controversy highlights the ongoing debates over historical figures and their legacies, with some groups calling for changes to the public memory associated with them. The Maharashtra government has yet to make any official statement regarding the demand.