Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi has found himself at the center of a political storm after being barred from the Maharashtra Assembly for the entirety of the ongoing budget session. The suspension, handed down by Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday, stemmed from Azmi’s controversial comments about Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Labeling the decision as “unfair” and “high-handed,” Azmi has also raised alarming concerns about threats to his life and the safety of his family.
Taking to X, Azmi voiced his frustration, writing, “The government’s move to suspend me is baseless and arbitrary. My life and my family’s safety are at risk. Maharashtra seems to be governed by two different rulebooks—if democracy is dead here, the government can act however it pleases against the people and their elected voices.” His remarks hint at a deeper unease about the state of democratic principles in the region.
The controversy erupted after Azmi reportedly described Aurangzeb as a ruler who “wasn’t harsh” and “constructed numerous temples,” challenging the popular narrative surrounding the Mughal emperor. He further argued that Aurangzeb’s conflict with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a matter of political control, not a religious divide between Hindus and Muslims.
These statements, made outside the Assembly, sparked outrage and prompted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil to propose Azmi’s suspension, claiming the remarks insulted the dignity of the House. The Speaker swiftly approved the motion, sidelining Azmi for the session.
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Before the suspension was finalized, Azmi attempted to de-escalate the situation. “I offered to retract my statement to keep the House running smoothly,” he explained. “I didn’t say anything incorrect, but since it was causing a disturbance and halting the budget session’s progress, I withdrew my comments—made outside the Assembly, not inside. Despite this, they’ve still banned me.” His plea, however, fell on deaf ears.
Azmi has found a staunch ally in Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who condemned the suspension as an attack on free speech. “When suspensions are dictated by ideological biases, what’s left of the line between liberty and oppression?” Yadav questioned. “Our MLAs and MPs possess fearless insight that cannot be tamed. If anyone believes a suspension can silence them, that’s just the naivety of small-minded negativity.”
The episode has ignited a debate about the limits of expression within legislative spaces and the growing tensions over historical narratives in Maharashtra’s political arena.
For now, Azmi remains excluded from the budget session, but his defiance—and the backing of his party—signal that this saga is far from over.