Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday urged Marathi people to seek historical knowledge from books rather than social media, as tensions rise in Maharashtra over Aurangzeb’s tomb. Speaking at his annual Gudhi Padwa rally in Mumbai, Thackeray emphasized the need for historical awareness and unity.
“Do we not want the world to know that those who tried to destroy the Marathas were themselves wiped out? Stop relying on WhatsApp forwards and read history books instead,” he said.
His remarks come in the wake of demands from right-wing groups to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district—a controversy that has sparked protests and violence in Nagpur earlier this month.
Criticizing selective historical awareness, Thackeray questioned, “Why do Hindus suddenly wake up to history only after watching a film? Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharaj’s sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and Aurangzeb because of Akshaye Khanna?”
He also called for unity among the Marathi population, drawing comparisons with Tamil Nadu’s assertive stance on language pride. “Look at Tamil Nadu. When the central government tries to impose Hindi, they stand together and fight for their pride. Meanwhile, we remain a confused and surrendered society,” he remarked.
Referring to the film Chhaava, which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his execution by Aurangzeb, Thackeray pointed out that Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat. He accused political groups of exploiting historical narratives for selfish gains, stating, “Those who incite people for political advantage are not truly concerned about history.”
He further commented on religious divisions, stating, “Religion should stay within one’s home. Hindus only remember their identity when Muslims take to the streets or during riots; otherwise, they remain divided by caste.”
Targeting the ruling Mahayuti government, Thackeray predicted the BJP-led administration would discontinue its Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. “I warned you before, but you chose to believe them instead,” he said.
The Mahayuti government has faced backlash from opposition parties for failing to fulfill its promise of increasing the monthly financial assistance under the scheme from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100, as pledged in their election manifesto ahead of last year’s assembly elections.
