Protest In Pune Takes Embarrassing Turn As Activists Burn Wrong Mughal Emperor’s Photo

Pune, 17th March 2025: A protest organized by the Patit Pavan Sanghathana against the glorification of Aurangzeb took an unexpected turn when demonstrators mistakenly targeted a different Mughal ruler. In a shocking blunder, activists garlanded a photograph of Bahadur Shah Zafar with shoes and set it on fire, believing it to be Aurangzeb.

Photos and videos of the mishap have gone viral on social media, drawing criticism from many quarters. People have questioned the organization’s lack of historical knowledge and criticized the poor planning of the protest. Angry netizens have ridiculed the activists for their error, further fueling controversy around the demonstration.

The protest took place at Lal Mahal Chowk, where activists chanted slogans against Aurangzeb, condemning efforts to glorify the foreign invader and cruel ruler. However, in the heat of the protest, they mistakenly burned the image of Bahadur Shah Zafar—the last Mughal emperor—rather than Aurangzeb.

Meanwhile, the demand to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) has been gaining momentum, leading to fears of further unrest. Some right-wing organizations have called for the demolition of the tomb, citing Aurangzeb’s brutal rule. BJP leaders, including Udayanraje Bhosale, have also made statements supporting the removal of the tomb.

The controversy escalated after MLA Abu Azmi made remarks in praise of Aurangzeb, which led to strong reactions from various organizations. Many Hindutva groups argue that Aurangzeb was a tyrant who persecuted Hindus and that any attempt to glorify him should be firmly opposed.