Athawale proposes memorial for Sambhaji instead of tomb removal

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has commented on the ongoing debate regarding Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra. Instead of suggesting it be removed, he proposed building a memorial for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje in Sambhajinagar to honor the Maratha ruler. Athawale, who is the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, emphasized the need for peace in the country. He stated, "Don't remove his (Aurangzeb) grave. But there should be a big memorial to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje in Sambhajinagar." He highlighted that the tomb is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The minister also urged the Muslim community to distance themselves from Aurangzeb. He mentioned that Muslims in the region were originally Hindus and should not see themselves connected to the Mughal emperor. These remarks come after recent communal tensions in Nagpur, which were sparked by protests over the tomb. The violence resulted in injuries to 12 police officers and over 100 arrests related to the unrest. Authorities have started demolishing illegal structures connected to a key accused in the violence.