Stop Reading History on WhatsApp, Says Raj Thackeray Amid Aurangzeb Tomb Controversy

Mumbai, March 31 – Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has condemned the recent attempts to incite communal tension over the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, urging people not to view history through the lens of caste and religion.

Addressing the annual Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Thackeray expressed concern over the growing tendency to rely on WhatsApp messages for historical knowledge. He criticized the narrative that stokes communal discord and emphasized the need for a more informed and rational understanding of history.

As per agency report, Thackeray said that the Mughals aimed to suppress an ideology represented by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but failed in doing so. He cited the burial of Bijapur general Afzal Khan near the Pratapgad Fort as an example, suggesting it was only possible with Shivaji’s permission, highlighting the complexity and nuances of that historical period.

He appealed to the public not to be provoked or distracted by such controversies, stating that the socio-political context before and after Shivaji’s time was different and should not be conflated with modern-day issues. Thackeray criticized the trend of people reacting to films to learn about historical figures, questioning whether audiences learned about the sacrifice of Sambhaji Maharaj by watching Vicky Kaushal or about Aurangzeb through Akshaye Khanna.

He concluded by emphasizing that people are losing sight of real, present-day issues, urging citizens to remain focused and avoid being misled by distorted historical narratives.