New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has distanced itself from the demand to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s Khuldabad, with Sunil Ambekar, the Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, saying that the Mughal emperor is no longer relevant today.
This came two days after RSS-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held demonstrations in Nagpur, demanding the tomb’s removal. Demonstrators—multiple sources in the police have told ThePrint based on videos they have seen—burnt a ‘chadar (holy book)’, along with Aurangzeb’s picture, leading to the riots. The VHP, however, has denied burning any ‘chadar‘.
Condemning the unrest, Ambekar said, “Any form of violence is detrimental to the society’s well-being”.
He was responding to questions on the three-day RSS national meet, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), in the city from 21-23 March, speaking at a press meet Wednesday, when the riots came up.
“Any type of violence is not good for the health of the society, and I think the police have taken cognisance of it, and they will get into the details,” Ambekar said when asked about the stance of the RSS on the unrest.
Asked whether Aurangzeb’s tomb should go, he replied, “I think not relevant.”
The VHP has continued with its demand for a memorial dedicated to Dhanaji Jadhav, Santaji Ghorpade, and Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj at the Mughal Emperor’s burial spot.
On Tuesday, just a day after the riots, VHP general secretary Milind Parande issued a statement that condemned the violence in Nagpur and alleged that a section of the minority community carried out the arson and other attacks on locals and public properties.
On the same day, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, called the riots a “pre-planned conspiracy” and a “targeted attack on specific houses” while dismissing the accounts of ‘chadar‘ burning as “rumours”.
A group of Bajrang Dal and VHP members gathered Monday at Chitnis Park Chowk in Nagpur’s Mahal area for the protest, just like they did at all other major cities and towns across Maharashtra. In Nagpur, however, the protest turned awry.
The agitators burnt a ‘chadar‘ with inscriptions from the Quran, triggering the Muslim community. The incident snowballed into violent clashes in Ganeshpeth, Bhagalpur, and Hansapuri, among other parts of Nagpur. Five civilians and 33 police personnel were injured in the clashes.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: How VHP, Bajrang Dal protests over Aurangzeb’s tomb spiralled into a night of mayhem in Nagpur
