'Threat to my life and that of my family': Abu Azmi calls Maharashtra assembly suspension arbitrary

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, who has been suspended for the entire duration of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, has called the decision arbitrary and raised concerns about threats to his life and family.
Azmi took to social media platform X to express his concerns, saying, "My suspension is arbitrary on the part of the government, there is a threat to my life and that of my family. Two laws are in force in Maharashtra, if democracy has ended in Maharashtra then the government can do anything to the public and the elected representatives of the public."

Earlier, Azmi had expressed his disappointment over the suspension and stated that he was willing to withdraw his remarks to ensure the smooth functioning of the Assembly.
He 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."
Azmi has received support from Samajwadi Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav, who criticised the suspension as a violation of freedom of expression.
"If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will there be between freedom of expression and subjection? Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by 'suspension' one can rein them in, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking," Yadav said.

The suspension was announced by Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday following a proposal in the assembly against Azmi’s remarks on Aurangzeb. Parliamentary affairs minister Chandrakant Patil stated in the House that Azmi's "objectionable statement" had hurt the dignity of the assembly, leading to the decision.
Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and had "built many temples." He also claimed that the conflict between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was about governance and not religion.
His comments sparked widespread outrage, particularly among Shiv Sena leaders and supporters, who have vowed to continue their protests across Maharashtra.
Defending his remarks, Azmi later clarified that he had only repeated what historians and writers had documented about Aurangzeb. He stated that his comments were not intended to be against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Sambhaji Maharaj and insisted that his "words were twisted."
"My words have been twisted. I have said what historians and writers have said about Aurangzeb Rahmatullah Alaih. I have not made any derogatory comment about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any other great men - but still if anyone has been hurt by my statement, then I take back my words, my statement," he said in a video posted on X.
Meanwhile, SP's ally and INDIA bloc partner, Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised Azmi, saying, "He should be permanently suspended. It should not just be for the Budget Session, the suspension should be permanent."