'The controversial ruler died 300 years ago': Uddhav Thackeray questions row over Aurangzeb's tomb

"If you want you can remove his grave... but call C Naidu and Nitish Kumar," he said referring to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Bihar counterpart as both are key BJP allies, considering how the votes of the Muslim population in each state are important to the TDP and JDU.

Thackeray also slammed the BJP, pointing out Aurangzeb had, in fact, been born in Gujarat.  The Mughal Emperor was born in 1618 in Dahod in Gujarat and died near Maharashtra's Bhingar in 1707.

"I am not the Chief Minister... nor am I the Home Minister. Ask the Chief Minister who is behind this violence. Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here and if it has failed, then they should resign..." he told reporters.

Uddhav Thackeray's remark was echoed by his son Aaditya Thackeray, who accused the BJP of orchestrating this controversy to distract from the state government's failures. In a sharp attack of his own, Thackeray junior also accused the BJP of trying to "make a Manipur of Maharashtra".

"Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern... they resort to violence and riots. If you look at Manipur... that is exactly what they want to convert Maharashtra to. They are trying to dig up the history of someone who lived over 300 years ago, but they cannot speak about the future... the present."

Violence in Nagpur

Massive violence broke out in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Monday amid a row over the call to remove Aurangzeb's tomb.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier appealed for peace, saying: "The police are managing the situation following stone pelting and tense situation in the Mahal area."

"Nagpur is a peaceful city where people share in each other's joys and sorrows, which has always been Nagpur's tradition. Do not believe any rumours," he added.

The clash between two groups in Nagpur's Mahal broke out hours after the right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad organised a protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. There has been tension in the area since.

Later, stones were pelted, and several vehicles, including a few belonging to the fire brigade, were torched.

Maharashtra's junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam on Tuesday morning said 47 people have been detained so far. He said at least a dozen cops and two civilians had been badly injured.

The violence triggered a predictable political tussle between the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and the BJP and its ally, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction.

Conspiracy and 'Chhaava'

Speaking in the Assembly this afternoon, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed it to be a "premeditated conspiracy... to target specific houses and establishments".

In a twist, he also mentioned the role of 'Chhaava', a recently released Hindi film about the Marathas' battle with Aurangzeb, in the violence.

"Chhaava brought the history of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj before the people and their sentiments were ignited. Also, the public anger against Aurangzeb is coming to the fore. Keeping these things in mind, the law and order system must be maintained and everyone should be patient. If anyone riots, we will take action regardless of caste or religion," Fadnavis said.

Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) responded sharply to the Chief Minister's remarks.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sena (UBT)'s Rajya Sabha MP, said it was "amazing that a movie on the valour of Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is now being called the instigator".

"Shameful blame game! The incapable Rane dynast mantri is not responsible, the CM's instigating statements not responsible, Navneet Rana's comments not responsible. Who is being held responsible for the riots of Nagpur? A movie that celebrated the valour of Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. What a fall," she said in a post on X.