All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Bihar unit chief and MLA Akhtarul Iman called the action against Azmi “unconstitutional” and lauded Aurangzeb for uniting India
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Political leaders, activists and journalists have severely criticised the suspension of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi from the Maharashtra Assembly over his defence of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
On Wednesday, the Maharashtra assembly unanimously passed a resolution suspending Azmi for the duration of the budget session for his remarks on the Mughal ruler.
Responding to his suspension, Azmi said, “I was not given an opportunity to present my side. I have only said the same thing that professors and academics have said about Aurangzeb. I have never said anything against the state’s icons.”
Azmi, also state chief of the Samajwadi Party, was suspended only because he asserted that Aurangzeb was not a cruel ruler.
“Wrong history is being shown. Aurangzeb built many temples. I do not consider him a cruel ruler. The battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was about state administration. That battle was not about Hindus and Muslims anywhere,” Azmi had said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the suspension of his party’s MLA stating that the disciplinary action cannot hide the truth.
“If the basis of suspension begins to be influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and dependence? Be it our legislators or parliamentarians, their fearless wisdom is unparalleled. If some people think that suspension can put a rein on the tongue of truth, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking,” he wrote on X.
Reacting to the suspension, noted human rights activist Prof Apoorvanand wondered whether the country could still be called ‘democratic’ since a lawmaker was suspended from the house for his remarks outside it.
“We still are a democracy. A lawmaker is suspended for his opinion outside the house. How does one react to it?” he posted on X platform.
All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Bihar unit chief and MLA Akhtarul Iman called the action against Azmi “unconstitutional” and lauded Aurangzeb for uniting India.
“BJP has no other work but to have political gains through politics of hatred. Youth want jobs and employment. Farmers want appropriate prices for their crops and irrigation for their fields. But the government is not able to do anything for them. They have no issue except for hate politics,” said Iman.
Talking about the Mughal ruler, he said Aurangzeb was a “noble emperor.” He earned his livelihood by stitching caps. He didn’t use taxpayers’ money on himself. He was buried here. He didn’t loot and leave like the British but served this country. He unified India, stretching from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar) and made it ‘Akhand Bharat’. He treated both temples and mosques equally.
“So, why such a controversy is being stoked?… Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of such actions. The suspension (against Abu Azmi) is unconstitutional,” he said.
Prominent news anchor Preeti Chaudhry has pointed out the double standards noting that one can get suspended for praising Aurangzeb but those who praise Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin face no action.
“Praising Aurangzeb will get you suspended from a state assembly – while Godse apologists/eulogists inside the same assembly and others will be at the forefront of this outrage – Political hypocrisy is such a beautiful thing,” said Chaudhry.
