March 17, 2025: Security has been tightened at Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following threats from Hindu outfits Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The groups have warned that the tomb could meet a "Babri Masjid-like fate" if the state government does not act on their demand for its removal.
On Monday, security personnel were deployed around the tomb as a precautionary measure. The heightened security comes in response to Bajrang Dal’s protests outside the Nagpur District Collector's office, where they reiterated their demand to remove the historical structure.
Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan, in a statement on Sunday, warned that if the government does not take action, the tomb could face the same outcome as the Babri Masjid. The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, by Hindu activists, leading to a prolonged legal battle that ended in a 2019 Supreme Court verdict awarding the site for the construction of a Ram Mandir.
Amid the controversy, BJP leader and Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh has sought details on the expenditure incurred by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the maintenance of Aurangzeb's tomb. In a letter to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat dated March 15, Singh requested a breakdown of funds spent on security, upkeep, and related expenses.
Authorities remain on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents, with security forces monitoring the situation closely.