Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has made a sensational claim that Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi’s remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb were orchestrated by the BJP to divert attention from the controversy surrounding NCP leader Dhananjay Munde’s resignation.
Accusing Azmi of playing into the BJP’s hands, Raut alleged, “The BJP was in trouble in the Assembly yesterday, and the Opposition was attacking Dhananjay Munde. To shift focus, Abu was instructed by the BJP to make such a statement, causing a stir, disrupting the atmosphere, and derailing discussions on Munde.” He further linked Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM to similar tactics, claiming that Azmi and Owaisi “often engage in such actions” to manipulate political discourse.
Azmi, who has now been suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly till the end of the Budget Session, had earlier apologized, stating that his words were misinterpreted. However, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rejected the apology, declaring, “His statement will cost him. He will not be forgiven.”
