Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 8 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday attacked the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi over his controversial remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Addressing the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Yogi condemned the Samajwadi Party and called for Abu Azmi to be removed from the party and sent to Uttar Pradesh for ‘treatment’.

CM Yogi said: ‘Samajwadi Party us (Abu Azmi) kambhakt ko nikalo party se, UP bhej do, baaki upchaar hum apne aap karwa lenge.’ (‘Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will do his treatment.’)

Sharpening his attack on SP, CM Yogi accused the party of blaming the Mahakumbh while its MLA praised Aurangzeb, who destroyed temples, and considered him an idol.

‘The person who feels ashamed about the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj instead of taking pride and considers Aurangzeb as his idol, does he have the right to stay in our country? Samajwadi Party should answer this. On one hand, you keep blaming Mahakumbh... on the other hand, you praise a person like Aurangzeb, who destroyed the temples of the country... why can't you control that MLA of yours? Why didn't you condemn his statement?’ the Chief Minister said in the assembly.

UP CM Yogi also praised the arrangements for the Mahakumbh, stating that it remains a memorable event for people across the country and the world and will continue to attract visitors.

‘Mahakumbh Prayagraj was a memorable event for people who came from all over the country and the world. Mahakumbh was a unique event that will continue to attract people. People have their own issues and emotions. Neither do we impose it on anyone, nor do we have this kind of nature. During the Mahakumbh, many political parties were badmouthing it, but we remained silent and performed our duties,’ the Chief Minister said.

‘Several thinkers have expressed their views on the spiritual, social, and economic aspects of the Mahakumbh. Only those who have witnessed the Mahakumbh can discuss such things. I believe that whatever was in a person’s vision, they saw the same kind of creation in Prayagraj. It was the first event to be praised by the world media, whether it was The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Express, CNN, Tribune, Times... UNESCO also granted it the status of invaluable cultural heritage in 2019,’ CM Yogi added.

Meanwhile, SP MLA Abu Azmi has been suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the entire session amid a row over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the duration of the ongoing budget session. A proposal was introduced in the Maharashtra Assembly against Azmi's remarks.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil stated in the House that Azmi's objectionable statement had hurt the dignity of the House, leading to the proposal to suspend his membership for the session, which the Speaker approved.

Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a ‘cruel administrator’ and had ‘built many temples’. He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was about state administration and not about Hindu-Muslim conflicts.

Earlier on Tuesday, Abu Azmi stated that his words had been misinterpreted and that he was willing to retract his statement and apologise if sentiments had been hurt.

‘My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have claimed about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Ali,’ Azmi said.

‘I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, or any other great men, but if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words and my statement,’ Azmi said in a video posted on his X account.

The MLA and Samajwadi Party chief for Maharashtra also claimed that the issue was being politicised.

‘The issue is being made into a political controversy, and I believe that closing the budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly over this is causing harm to the people of Maharashtra,’ Azmi said.

Earlier, a zero FIR was registered against Azmi at the Naupada Police Station in Thane and was later transferred to the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai in connection with his remarks on Aurangzeb. The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske. (ANI)