Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that people who still praise Mughal emperor Aurangzeb are “traitors.” He made the statement on Monday night while unveiling a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Thane district’s Dombivli area.
Shinde said that Aurangzeb tried to capture Maharashtra and committed many atrocities. “Aurangzeb came to seize Maharashtra, but he faced the divine power of Shivaji Maharaj. Those who still sing his praises are nothing but traitors,” he said.
He praised Shivaji Maharaj as a brave warrior and the “roar of Hindutva.” He also called him the “inventor of democracy.”
“Shiv Chhatrapati is the pride of a united India. He was a visionary leader, a promoter of justice, and a king of the commoners,” Shinde said.
His remarks come at a time when right-wing groups are demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. On Monday, violence broke out in Nagpur over rumors that a holy book was burned during a protest by one such group.
At the event, Shinde announced that Gharda Chowk would now be called ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk.’ The crowd cheered and chanted “Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji.”
Shinde urged people to follow the teachings of Shivaji Maharaj. “If we adopt even one quality of Shivaji Maharaj in our lives, that will be the best tribute to him,” he said.
He also said the government is committed to development and people-friendly governance, inspired by Shivaji Maharaj’s principles.
