Sanjay Raut interview: ‘If violence in Nagpur was pre-planned, why did Devendra Fadnavis as Home Minister not know?’

The growing chorus around Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra and demands from right-wing groups to remove it reached a boiling point Monday with Nagpur, the state’s winter capital, seeing violence between two groups. Sanjay Raut, the editor of Saamana, has never been one to beat about the bush and, as a leader of the united Shiv Sena, was among its most vocal voices on issues close to the party’s heart.

As a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader now, Raut occupies the anti-BJP space in Maharashtra. In an interview to The Indian Express, the Rajya Sabha MP speaks about the flaring up of tensions over Aurangzeb’s tomb and what he thinks about the timing. Excerpts:

Why do you think the issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb has come up now, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also saying that it is unfortunate that the tomb enjoys protected status?

Maharashtra is facing several grave issues such as corruption, farmer suicides. In the last week, nine farmers have died by suicide. To cover up all these problems, they want to resurrect Aurangzeb from his tomb. They want to distract people from their daily struggles, and the issues faced by the state. Even now in Beed district, extortion incidents are coming to light (the murder of a sarpanch here recently led to the resignation of senior NCP leader Dhananjay Munde as minister). To distract from their failure to rein in these issues, the Mahayuti government is stoking unrest between Hindus and Muslims.

Police disperse an agitating crowd as communal tension prevailed Chitnis park area following the VHP-Bajrang Dal protest, in Nagpur, Monday. (PTI Photo)

This issue was stirred up after the film Chhava’s release (it is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was killed by Aurangzeb). The RSS and its sister organizations are adept at fanning flames and provoking people on such issues. And yesterday we saw violence in Nagpur. The city has a history of over 300 years and it has never seen communal disturbances.

At least four policemen were injured in the clashes. Police officers said a group of protesters had burnt an effigy of Aurangzeb but this led to rumours of a holy book being desecrated, and video clips began doing the rounds of social media. (Image: ANI)

Nagpur is Fadnavis’s own city, and the violence is a gross failure of his government and the Home Ministry (which the CM heads). Some people have said they will desecrate Aurangzeb’s tomb. Who has stopped them (from doing so)? It is their own government in the state, they don’t need to riot. Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, they should all go and dig it up. They should issue an ordinance, a government resolution, and destroy his tomb if they wish to do so. Why shy away from that (if they are serious about it)?

What is the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s stand on this issue?

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When we were in the government for two-and-a-half years, there was not a single incident of communal violence. Even during the government under (Shiv Sena leader) Manohar Joshi, when Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, there was not a single riot for five years. Why are communal riots happening now?

Also Read | In run-up to Nagpur violence, how the air was heating up

For us, this is not about Aurangzeb’s tomb, that is not significant to us. This (the grave) is a testament to the valour and courage of Marathas. A Mughal emperor came to conquer Maharashtra but failed multiple times as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and then other Maratha leaders for 25 years, engaged him in battle. He (Aurangzeb) had to die here, and thus the tomb is a testament to Maratha history.

Nagpur: People stand near charred remains of a car at Chitnis Park area amid curfew after violence erupted on Monday night, in Nagpur, early Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (PTI Photo)

If you desecrate that place, you are wiping away the history of the battles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The RSS wants to decimate this history.

CM Fadnavis said in the Assembly Tuesday that the violence in Nagpur was pre-planned.

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Then, what was he doing? He is in-charge of the Home portfolio, which means he has been a total failure. If you do not have intelligence on a pre-planned riot, then why are you the Home Minister? For 24 hours, members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal were signalling on camera that they would stir up trouble, their faces were on camera. Who were these people, who pre-planned (the incident)? Was he (Fadnavis) not aware of all these proclamations of troublemaking? What was the police department under him doing?

Also Read | As Opp raises Nagpur violence, Shinde: Why should glorification of Aurangzeb be allowed?

Why is the state witnessing polarisation?

There are ministers in this government who are using the language of the street, threatening and intimidating Opposition leaders, heckling them. Such people are in this government’s Council of Ministers. A state’s government and its chief minister ought to be non-partisan, secular. How do they tolerate statements made to foment trouble and disturbance?

This leads us to believe that the CM is okay with these troublemakers and those who are looking to disturb peace.