'Call Naidu and Nitish first': Uddhav Thackeray's swipe at BJP amid calls to 'remove' Aurangzeb's grave

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power at the Centre and the state, should remove the tomb of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb if it so desires but suggested that they call their allies Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar before doing so.

"If you want, you can remove his (Aurangzeb's) grave, but call Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar during that time," Thackeray said while speaking to reporters on the violence in Nagpur.

The former CM's remark was a sly shot at the BJP which has partnered with Nitish's Janata Dal (United) and Naidu's Telugu Desam party (TDP) at the Centre and the Bihar and Andhra pradesh governments, respectively.

Both parties are seen as secular in nature and count Muslims as a major source of support owing to their population. Both parties have also refused to toe the BJP's line on Hindutva and are still seen as opposed to the BJP's hardline stance on several similar issues.

Thackeray further said that a face-off on the issue was "needless" as the controversial ruler died over 300 years ago and advised the BJP to determine the cause of the violence that ensued in Nagpur.

"I am not the Chief Minister, nor am I the Home Minister, ask the Chief Minister who is behind this (violence). Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here...if the double-engine government has failed, then they should resign," he said.

Taking another potshot at the BJP, Thackeray pointed out that Aurangzeb was, in fact, born in Gujarat. "Aurangzeb, who was born in Gujarat, and came to Maharashtra to challenge Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, could not return to Agra," Thackeray said.

The remarks came a day after violent clashes were reported in Nagpur following a protest by right-wing organisations the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal to press for their demand to remove Aurangzeb's tomb from the state.

Several policemen were injured in the stone-pelting and attacks that took place Monday evening, officials said. Latest reports suggest that over 50 suspects have been rounded up and being investigated in connection with the developments that transpired last evening.

Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly earlier today, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the violence was a consequence of rumour-mongering on social media and advised citizens to remain calm and exercise restraint.

The Chief Minister also promised action against those found guilty of violence and arson in Nagpur. Meanwhile, security has also been stepped up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district (previously Aurangabad) where Aurangzeb's tomb is located.