'Hindus who feel awakened after watching Chhava are of no use': Raj Thackeray on Aurangzeb row

Since leaving Shiv Sena and forming his own party in 2005, Raj Thackeray has been struggling to establish his political identity.

Maharashtra Navanirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday came down heavily on efforts to fan communal tensions on the issue of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb's tomb and advised people to refer to books to learn history instead of relying on information on WhatsApp.

Addressing his annual Gudhi Padwa rally in Mumbai on Sunday, Thackeray said people would want the world to know that people who sought to destroy the Marathas were wiped out.

"Don't we want to let the world know that these people sought to destroy the Marathas were wiped out instead. Stop reading history on WhatsApp and rather delve into history books," Thackeray said.

Tensions have simmered in Maharashtra on the Aurangzeb's tomb in Sambhaji Nagar (previously Aurangabad) with several right-wing groups demanding that the tomb be moved out of the state and the ASI withdraw the protection provided to the monument. Nagpur witnessed violent clashes after a protest on the issue by the VHP and Bajrang Dal.

Speaking in the Assembly on the violence earlier this month, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had cited the film 'Chhava' as one of the reasons behind the charged emotions.

Thackeray, however, said that Hindus who felt awakened after watching a film were of no use. "We have forgotten the real issues of the present time. Hindus who feel awakened after a movie are of no use. Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharaj's sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and because of Aurangzeb because of Akshaye Khanna?" Thackeray said, adding that Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, was buried near the Pratapgad Fort with permission from Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Adding to the historical context, Thackeray further pointed out that Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat, and slammed those trying to "manipulate history" for personal gains.

Thackeray further said that religion can never be the sole driver of a nation's progress and cited the example of Turkey as a nation which reformed and modernized itself.