Amid growing demands for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, right-wing outfits Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have threatened to conduct ‘karseva’ (symbolic purification) if the government does not take action.
The two groups plan to submit a memorandum to the state government on March 17, demanding legal removal of the tomb. According to VHP leaders, the tomb symbolizes “centuries of oppression, atrocities, and slavery” inflicted on Hindus during Aurangzeb’s rule and should be demolished. They have warned of state-wide protests and ‘karseva’ if their demands are not met.
The issue gained momentum after minister Nitesh Rane and former MP Navneet Rana called for the tomb’s removal. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis supported the demand but emphasized that any action must comply with the law, as the site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
At a press conference in Pune, VHP Western Maharashtra coordinator Kishor Chavan called Aurangzeb’s tomb “a reminder of betrayal, hatred, and Hindu persecution.” He criticized Aurangzeb for imprisoning his father, executing his brothers, and ordering the destruction of Hindu temples. Chavan said if the government didn’t act, they would take out ‘karseva’ like the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.
The authorities, in reply, have also stepped up security around the mausoleum, deploying State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) personnel and screening visitors. Right-wing figure Milind Ekbote has been banned from entering Sambhajinagar district from March 16 to April 5, fearing he might try to dismantle the mausoleum.
Opposition parties have criticized the demand, stating that history must be kept intact and not destroyed. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal blamed VHP and Bajrang Dal for politicizing the issue. NCP MLA Rohit Pawar cautioned that the removal of the tomb might generate unnecessary disputes, pointing out that it is a reminder of Aurangzeb’s failure to conquer Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government has yet to issue an official response on the matter, which has gained traction following the release of the film “Chhaava,” depicting the execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by Aurangzeb. The Mughal emperor ruled from 1658 until his death in 1707, spending his final decades in the Deccan region.