"Abu Azmi is B team of BJP," says Aaditya Thackeray

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 5 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday alleged that Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi is the BJP's "B team" and said that anyone praising Aurangzeb or insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has no place in India or Maharashtra.
"If anybody praises Aurangzeb or insults Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, that person has no place in India or Maharashtra. Especially, we hope and believe that when the BJP is governing, such a statement should not have been made," Thackeray told reporters.
He further claimed that Azmi was being used by the BJP to divert attention whenever the party faced trouble in Maharashtra.
"Abu Azmi is B team of the BJP. Every time the BJP comes into trouble in Maharashtra, they activate Abu Azmi. That's what happened in the last session...The BJP came into trouble in Maharashtra, which is why they activated Abu Azmi..." he alleged.
His remarks come amid political tensions over Azmi's suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly, with opposition leaders alleging ideological bias in the decision.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacked the Samajwadi Party and its Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi over his controversial remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Addressing the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Yogi, while condemning the Samajwadi Party, asked them to remove Abu Azmi from the party and send him to Uttar Pradesh for "treatment".CM Yogi said, "Samajwadi Party us (Abu Azmi) kambhakt ko nikalo party se, UP bhej do, baaki upchaar hum apne aap karwa lenge." ("Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will do his treatment.)
Earlier today, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. A proposal was brought in the Maharashtra Assembly today against Azmi's remarks.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil said in the House that Azmi's objectionable statement had hurt the dignity of the House, leading to the proposal to suspend his membership for this session, which the Speaker passed.
Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim.
Abu Azmi expressed his disappointment after being suspended for the entire duration of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Abu Azmi said, "To ensure that the House functions, I spoke about withdrawing my statement. I did not say anything wrong. Still, there is a controversy and proceedings of the House are being stalled. To ensure that the House functions and some work is done during Budget Session...I withdrew the statement that I made outside
His remarks come in the wake of political tensions over Azmi's suspension, with leaders alleging ideological bias in the decision. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday attacked the Samajwadi Party and its Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi over his controversial remarks on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Addressing the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Yogi, while condemning the Samajwadi Party, asked them to remove Abu Azmi from the party and send him to Uttar Pradesh for "treatment".CM Yogi said, "Samajwadi Party us (Abu Azmi) kambhakt ko nikalo party se, UP bhej do, baaki upchaar hum apne aap karwa lenge." ("Remove that person from (Samajwadi) party and send him to UP, we will do his treatment.)
Earlier today, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. A proposal was brought in the Maharashtra Assembly today against Azmi's remarks.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil said in the House that Azmi's objectionable statement had hurt the dignity of the House, leading to the proposal to suspend his membership for this session, which the Speaker passed.
Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim.
Abu Azmi expressed his disappointment after being suspended for the entire duration of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Abu Azmi said, "To ensure that the House functions, I spoke about withdrawing my statement. I did not say anything wrong. Still, there is a controversy and proceedings of the House are being stalled. To ensure that the House functions and some work is done during Budget Session...I withdrew the statement that I made outside the Assembly, not in the House. Still, I have been suspended." (ANI)