On the occasion of Shiv Jayanti, Hindutva extremists launched a violent attack in Nagpur and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) under the pretext of demanding the removal of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, Aurangabad. The supporters of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal carried out violent attacks in the Hansapuri and Bhaldarpura areas near Mahal Gate Shivaji Murti Chowk, just 2 km from the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. These areas, which house significant Muslim populations, were targeted under the pretext of demanding the removal of the tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Khuldabad, Aurangabad.
Similar attempts to incite communal violence were reported in Aurangabad, but the local population overwhelmingly rejected this divisive agenda. Nagpur, known for its peaceful coexistence, is now being dragged into communal discord by right-wing extremists who seek to pit Marathas and Muslims against each other to strengthen their own sectarian ideology. Given that Dalits and Muslims share a history of mutual respect and solidarity in Nagpur, these forces find it difficult to stoke tensions between them. In a previous instance in Parbhani, police carried out a combing operation in which Somnath Suryavanshi died in custody, and Dalits and women were brutally beaten, an apparent attempt to fracture Dalit-Muslim unity.
Local residents have reported that during the violence in Nagpur, the Hindutva extremists used provocative actions to vitiate peace and create communal tension. Muslim community protested against this and pressured the local police to take action. However, the police failed to act against the perpetrators. Instead, Hindutva mobs—backed by the state government—wreaked havoc, targeting Muslim neighbourhoods and causing large-scale destruction of property. Over 150 people have been arrested, but the real masterminds of this communal carnage remain untouched.
Instead of restoring peace and ensuring justice, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister has further legitimised the communal violence by expressing regret that the government is responsible for protecting Aurangzeb’s tomb. This is a deliberate distraction from the real crises affecting Maharashtra’s youth—unemployment, inflation, and growing inequality. Even as the Maratha reservation movement intensifies, the government seeks to deflect attention from its failures by erecting walls of communal hatred.
We demand:
The immediate release of all innocent individuals arrested in connection with the violence.
A thorough and independent investigation.
Compensation for the victims of the violence and a firm commitment from the government to restore peace and communal harmony across Maharashtra.
The BJP-RSS regime is pushing Maharashtra towards a dangerous path of division and hatred. We urge the people of Maharashtra to reject these attempts to polarise society and stand united against communal violence.
- Issued by Shyam Gohil, Maharashtra State Secretary of CPI(ML)
