Glorification of Aurangzeb a historical injustice, says Union defence minister Rajnath Singh

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said history books highlighted Mughal rulers like Aurangzeb, while reducing or ignoring the legacy of indigenous warriors, which was not just a historical injustice, but an attempt to erase the proud past from the minds of future generations.
Speaking at the unveiling of Maharana Pratap's statue in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the Union minister cited first PM of India Jawaharlal Nehru's description of Aurangzeb as a "fanatic", highlighting his imposition of the ‘jizya' (tax), suppression of various rulers and demolition of temples. "How can such a ruler be a hero for anyone?" Singh asked.
His comments come amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Aurangzeb's tomb at Khultabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Singh said a section of historians distorted Indian history to glorify invaders and suppress national heroes like Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
"It is a historical injustice that we were presented with a twisted history. It is the moral responsibility to present the correct history to our youths and tell them that Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are not confined to pages of history books, but are sources of inspiration," he said. "We do not indulge in politics of religion and all Indians are equal for us. This is our learning and thinking. We have learnt this from Maharana Pratap and Shivaji Maharaj," he said.
In his address, Singh also said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj considered Maharana Pratap as his ideal and adopted guerilla warfare practised by the Mewar ruler.
On the subject of changing names of roads and cities, the Union minister said, "If Aurangzeb Road can be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Road, or Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, what's wrong? Changing names from those associated with tyranny to those representing national pride and progress is very much justified. Those opposing such changes should reflect on the values behind the names, not just the politics."
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, the current custodian of the House of Mewar, an ancient royal family from Udaipur, were also present during the unveiling of the life-size bronze statue of Maharana Pratap installed by the local municipal corporation.
Defence manufacturing units in Sambhajinagar
Union minister Singh, who held a brief meeting with local industries, said he was positive about setting up defence manufacturing units in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and appealed to the industry captains to come out with necessary proposals.
Stating that the city has a mature and conducive industrial ecosystem, he asked the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) to send its delegation to discuss investment ideas.