Senior RSS Leader Slams Aurangzeb Row as Unnecessary: 'Tomb Will Stay'

The issue over the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Maharashtra was called "unnecessary" by senior RSS leader Suresh "Bhaiyyaji" Joshi on Monday.

"Aurangzeb's tomb has been brought up unnecessarily.  His mausoleum has been constructed in India, where he passed away.  PTI cited Joshi as stating, "Those who have faith will go."

We have the adarsh (role model) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who constructed Afzal Khan's tomb.  This is a representation of India's tolerance and generosity. "Whoever wishes to leave will go; the tomb will remain," the former general secretary of the RSS continued.

Joshi was answering a query concerning Raj Thackeray's remarks regarding the Mughal emperor's mausoleum controversy.

The leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj Thackeray, advised people on Sunday to avoid seeing history from a communal perspective and to resist the politics of hatred based on caste and religion.

 In order to present them as a tribute to Maratha bravery, he had stated that the tombs of those who assaulted Chhatrapati Shivaji's swarajya, such as Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan, should be preserved.  Additionally, he warned against depending on WhatsApp forwards for historical data.

He said that Shivaji Maharaj was against feudalism.  "People from all communities worked for different kingdoms, so don't look at the commander's caste or religion or the employees of historical personalities.  I encourage young people to refrain from reading WhatsApp history.  He had stated, "This is a scheme to distract you from the actual issues facing society."

The comments made by Thackeray and the RSS leader line up with calls from certain groups to have the tomb of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb removed.

Violence in Nagpur was sparked earlier this month by allegations that a "chadar" with sacred inscriptions was set on fire during demonstrations organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to have the tomb removed.