AGRA: A right-wing outfit in Uttar Pradesh has announced a reward of Rs 21 lakh for demolishing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The declaration comes soon after Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis‘s recent remarks supporting the removal of the tomb.
Dinesh Falhari, chief of Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas, made the announcement in a video message. “Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished Hindu temples, perpetrated atrocities on Hindu women… He inflicted brutalities upon Maratha warriors, and I was distraught after witnessing that in a recent film. What purpose does his grave serve in India? I assert that his grave should be bulldozed; Aurangzeb’s grave has no place in India. Whoever bulldozes Aurangzeb’s grave will receive Rs 21 lakh from Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas. We shall not permit his grave anywhere in the country,” he said.
On March 10, Falhari had submitted a petition demanding a ban on garments made by Muslim weavers for Lord Krishna;s idol at Mathura’s Banke Bihari temple. However, the temple administration dismissed his request, saying “no alterations have been implemented in the selection procedure for the deity’s attire”.
Earlier, Fadnavis expressed comparable sentiments while supporting calls to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb, though he emphasised that it must be done legally as the site remains under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “We share similar aspirations, however, it must be accomplished within legal frameworks, as it is a protected site. The site was designated under ASI’s protection during the Congress administration some years ago,” Fadnavis said in Mumbai.
Aurangzeb’s grave, located in Khuldabad near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (earlier named Aurangabad), has been at the centre of multiple controversies. In 2022, Maharashtra police imposed temporary restrictions on entry to the site after right-wing groups attempted to visit the tomb.
The Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas, the organisation led by Falhari, has been vocal about various issues in Mathura, particularly concerning the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. It has previously sought the removal of Muslim religious structures near the temple complex and has made demands regarding Hindu-Muslim religious practices in the region.
