The Shiv Sena (UBT) highlights recent protests against Aurangzeb's posters, denouncing the act as a means to politically capitalize on a historical figure who died centuries ago.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to the manipulation of history for political gain in Maharashtra. In an editorial published in their party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Shiv Sena (UBT) criticized the BJP for allegedly digging up the grave of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, as their previous tactic of evoking Bajrang Bali failed to yield desired results in the neighboring Karnataka Assembly polls.
Highlighting the recent protests against posters of Aurangzeb during processions, the editorial condemned the act, stating that Aurangzeb, who died centuries ago, was being exhumed for political mileage. The Shiv Sena (UBT) pointed out that the BJP had relied on invoking Lord Hanuman during their political campaign in Karnataka, following the Congress' promise to ban groups like the Bajrang Dal if they incited communal unrest. However, the Congress emerged victorious in the Assembly polls, toppling the Basavaraj Bommai government.
The editorial drew attention to the violent protests in Kolhapur, where right-wing outfits clashed over the use of an offensive audio message and an image of Tipu Sultan as social media status. Additionally, four individuals were booked in Ahmednagar for carrying Aurangzeb posters during a procession. The Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that the protesters from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, who gathered in Kolhapur, were external elements with ulterior motives.
Expressing concern over the cooperative sector and stability in the two districts, the editorial highlighted the underlying conspiracy behind using Aurangzeb's image as a mere pretext. Aurangzeb's antagonistic actions against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the revered warrior king, and his order to execute Chhatrapati Sambhaji have made him an object of disdain in Maharashtra. Aurangzeb's final resting place is in Aurangabad, a city in the state's Marathwada region named after him.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized certain political parties for resorting to divisive tactics to gain an advantage in upcoming elections. Drawing a parallel to Ayatollah Khomeini's approach in Iran's post-Islamic revolution era, Raut expressed concern over the politics of division being employed in India and Maharashtra.