Mumbai, March 5: Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi expressed his disappointment after being suspended for the entire Maharashtra budget session on March 5 due to his remarks about Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Azmi claimed he offered to withdraw his statement to ensure the smooth functioning of the House, saying, "I did not say anything wrong, but to avoid controversy, I withdrew my statement made outside the Assembly." Despite this, he was still suspended.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav supported Azmi, calling the suspension a violation of freedom of expression. He criticized the move, saying it was politically motivated and undermined the right to free speech.
The suspension followed a proposal in the Assembly brought by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, who argued Azmi's remarks had hurt the dignity of the House. Azmi had stated that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and had built many temples, claiming the conflict between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was about administration, not religion.
Earlier, Azmi clarified that his words were misinterpreted and apologized if anyone was offended. He also criticized the politicization of the issue, suggesting it harmed the ongoing budget session and the people of Maharashtra. A police FIR was filed against him in Thane over his comments.
