Lyricist Manoj Muntashir has strongly criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi for praising Aurangzeb. He also called the politician ‘deshdrohi’ and asked everyone to boycott him. Muntashir reacted to a news post which was about Abu Azmi’s suspension from Budget session of Maharashtra Assembly.
Taking to his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account on Wednesday, Muntashir wrote in Hindi, “The Hindus of India were not troubled by Muslims but by traitors who consider Aurangzeb as their father, are and will always be troubled by it.”
He added, “I appeal to all my Muslim brothers and sisters to boycott such scoundrels. Because of them, questions are raised on nationalist Muslims.”
What is the controversy?
Abu Azmi has been suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the remainder of the ongoing Budget Session following his controversial remarks about Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The suspension came despite Azmi withdrawing his statement, and he has since released a video message to clarify his stance.
Addressing the controversy, Azmi stated, “I’ve just learned that I’ve been suspended from the Assembly for the rest of this session. When I spoke about a historical figure, I did not disrespect any leader or insult anyone. My comments on Aurangzeb were rooted in history.”
Azmi previously explained that his remarks were a reaction to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma comparing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb, rather than a standalone statement.
Notably, Azmi’s video statement featured a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the background – a gesture seen as an attempt to counter criticism from rival parties accusing him of disrespecting the Maratha king’s legacy.
In an interview last week, Azmi stated that Aurangzeb should not be seen merely as a ruthless ruler but rather as a remarkable administrator who also built temples. He pointed out that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s borders extended to Afghanistan and Burma (now Myanmar). Azmi further remarked, “I do not believe that the battle between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb was about religion; it was a political conflict.”
