A day after Nagpur riots, VHP continues to press for removal of Aurangzeb’s grave

VHP general secretary Milind Parande. File photo
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

A day after communal violence and arson shook Nagpur during protests against Aurangzeb’s grave, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) continued its demand that a memorial dedicated to Dhanaji Jadhav, Santaji Ghorpade, and Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj should be built in place of the Mughal emperor’s burial spot.

In a video message, VHP general secretary Milind Parande strongly condemned the violence in Nagpur and alleged that the arson and attack on locals and on public property was carried out by a section of the minority community.

“Houses of VHP’s youth wing Bajrang Dal workers were attacked. The Muslim mob targeted many houses of the Hindu community and even women were not spared. We condemn all this strongly. It is extremely shameful that on one hand the lie was spread that the Hindu community had burnt the verses of the holy book of a community and on the other hand a despicable attempt was made to incite violence,” he said adding that strict action should be taken against all such anti-social elements.

The VHP general secretary also said the glorification of Aurangzeb’s grave in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Nagar should be stopped. He demanded that instead of the Mughal emperor’s grave, a ‘Vijay Smarak’ (memorial) of those who defeated Aurangzeb, like Dhanaji Jadhav and Santaji Ghorpade, as well as that of Chhatrapati Shri Rajaramji Maharaj, should be built there.