Mumbai, Mar 5: The budget session of the state legislature is set to conclude on March 26.
State minister Chandrakant Patil introduced the motion of suspension during the assembly session on Wednesday.
Members from the treasury benches expressed that praising Aurangzeb was an affront to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
The motion was approved through a voice vote.
“Azmi’s remarks lauding Aurangzeb and disparaging Sambhaji Maharaj are unbefitting of an assembly member and disrespect the legislative assembly’s democratic institution,” Mr. Patil remarked.
Mr. Azmi, the head of the Samajwadi Party’s state committee, noted that India’s territory extended to Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar) under Aurangzeb’s rule.
“During his reign, our GDP constituted 24 percent of global GDP, and India was referred to as a golden sparrow,” asserted the MLA representing Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai.
When questioned about the conflict between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Mr. Azmi described it as a political struggle.
His statements stirred controversy in both houses of the state legislature on Tuesday, prompting members of the ruling party to demand his suspension and call for treason charges against him.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Mr. Azmi claimed that his words had been misinterpreted.
“Everything I mentioned about Aurangzeb is based on statements from historians and authors. I have not disparaged Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any national figures. Nevertheless, if my comments have offended anyone, I retract them,” he stated. (Agencies)
