Nagpur Violence: Chhaava Movie Ignited Anger Against Aurangzeb, Says CM Fadnavis; Curfew Imposed

City Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal on Tuesday confirmed that the situation in Nagpur, where violence erupted last night over the demands seeking removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, had returned to normal.

"Our action to establish peace is continuing. Social media is being monitored and we are developing the information we are getting. Whether someone was conspiring this and how many people were involved in it is being investigated," Singal said to HT.

Nagpur police on Tuesday said that more than 50 people have been detained in connection with the violence that broke out after clashes broke out during a protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, reports suggest.

Officials are trying to identify others involved by analysing CCTV footage.

A curfew has been enforced in several areas of Nagpur under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Nagpur CP Dr. Ravinder Singal said that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (empowering Magistrates to issue immediate preventive orders in urgent cases to prevent obstruction, danger to human life, public disturbance, or riots, and can be directed at individuals, specific areas, or the general public) has been imposed in the city.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while speaking on communal tension in Nagpur in the Assembly, said, "Chhava movie has ignited people’s anger against Aurangzeb still, everyone must keep Maharashtra peaceful," as quoted by ANI.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis added, "This violent incident and riots seem to be pre-planned."

Also Read | Nagpur Violence: Curfew Imposed After Fresh Clashes Over Aurangzeb Row, CM Fadnavis Appeals For Calm | Key Points

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the act, describing it as a "brutal incident".

"Such kind of a brutal incident was never witnessed before. The protestors are protesting for the pride of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj... Those who support Aurangzeb should read history and watch the movie 'Chhava'... I believe that even the true patriotic Muslims will not support Aurangzeb," Shinde said.

Chhaava's narrative, which reinforces the idea of valiant Hindu kings protecting their homeland against evil Muslim enemies, has found a strong resonance with the Hindutva narrative and fuelled anti-Muslim politics.

The film’s portrayal of the Maratha-Mughal conflict, Sambhaji’s martyrdom to protect the Hindu faith, and his refusal to accept Islam has evoked intense reactions in cinema halls across the country, with audience members gasping in tears, and others making a spectacle with loud proclamations of Shiva Garjana—in praise of Shivaji. In Nagpur, an excited fan even rode a horse into a cinema hall; while in Gujarat’s Bharuch, an intoxicated man tore the cinema screen during a high-pitched climax scene; and in Delhi, a group of youth vandalised signboards of Akbar Road and Humayun Road with black paint and covered them with posters of Shivaji. 

Read more here on the politics of 'Chhaava'

With reports of violent clashes in Nagpur, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the movie 'Chhaava' has sparked anger in people against Mughal king Aurangzeb.

The roaring success at the box office of Vicky Kaushal starrer action drama Chhaava, a biopic of Shivaji’s eldest son Sambhaji-- heir to the throne of the Maratha kingdom-- has drawn in emotional and political hysteria from Maharashtra to Delhi. 

The Sambhaji in 'Chhaava' is fierce, flawless; a king you’d follow into a furnace. But history’s not that clean and elegant.

Read more here - 'Chhaava' And The Larger-Than-Life Sambhaji

Congress leader Pawan Khera has blamed the BJP-led government for the violence, alleging a failure in maintaining law and order, while questioning how such unrest could take place in a city with a 300-year history of communal harmony, and accusing some political parties of deliberately provoking tensions for their own gains, ANI reported.

"Riot broke out in Mahal area of Nagpur, the hometown of Maharashtra CM. Nagpur is a 300-year-old city. In these 300 years of history, no riot has occurred in Nagpur. We should all ask why such a situation formed. There is BJP in power in both Centre and State. If VHP and Bajrang Dal organised a protest demanding the removal of the tomb of Aurangzeb, did the Government make no arrangements to maintain law and order?," Khera said.

"Congress party and all of us appeal to the people of Nagpur to maintain peace. A game is being played and the 300-year-old history is being turned into an issue. Don't fall victim to this game, maintain peace, as that is in our interest. A few political parties provocate people and think that their political interests lie in this. We have to avoid such politics. Peace is important for us," he added.

Opposition MPs on Tuesday blamed the BJP-led Maharashtra government for the Nagpur violence, while Union minister Ramdas Athawale said the movie 'Chhaava' stoked people's sentiments against 17th century Mughal king Aurangzeb, PTI reported.

"Demands are being raised about Aurangzeb's grave, a movement is going on. The grave has been there for 500 years, but after watching the Chhaava movie, the way he murdered Sambhaji Maharaj, that has made people angry," Athawale told reporters outside Parliament.

"That is why protests are happening. We appeal to the protesters that they should agitate peacefully. There should be no violence," he added.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said the violence in Nagpur was part of a planned conspiracy.

"BJP had been trying to spread hatred in Nagpur and the whole of Maharashtra for a long time. As long as the BJP is there, there cannot be peace in India. Ahead of Holi, they tried to disrupt peace in Uttar Pradesh, what is the reason behind it? It is so that people can't talk about the crashing share market, economic disparity is at its highest in hundred years, there is unemployment," he said as quoted by PTI.

"Ye chilla rahe hai Aurangzeb, Aurangzeb, janta kah rahi hai kat gayi jeb...(They are shouting Aurangzeb, people are saying their pockets are being picked)," he stated.

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose said the confrontation in Nagpur exposed the Centre's 'Viksit Bharat' slogan as hollow.

"At a time when the focus should be on employment, farmer suicide, rising prices, what is BJP doing? It is creating yet another weapon of mass distraction," she told PTI.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday claimed that violence in Nagpur was "sponsored" by the Mahayuti government and blamed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the unrest in the city, reported PTI.

"This riot has been sponsored by government and Devendra Fadnavis," Jarange alleged while talking to reporters at Ellora in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

"They now don't see those who insulted Shivaji Maharaj. Doing such things when the local body elections are around is not good," Jarange stated.

Opposition MPs on Tuesday blamed the BJP-led Maharashtra government for the Nagpur violence, while Union minister Ramdas Athawale said the movie 'Chhaava' stoked people's sentiments against 17th century Mughal king Aurangzeb.

Curfew has been imposed in several areas of Nagpur city after a protest against Aurangzeb's tomb on Monday triggered violence during which several houses and vehicles were vandalised.

Demands are being raised about Aurangzeb's grave, a movement is going on. The grave has been there for 500 years, but after watching the Chhaava movie, the way he murdered Sambhaji Maharaj, that has made people angry," Athawale told reporters outside Parliament.

"That is why protests are happening. We appeal to the protesters that they should agitate peacefully. There should be no violence," he added.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said the violence in Nagpur was part of a planned conspiracy.

(via PTI)

On the violence in Nagpur over Aurangzeb's tomb, Shiv Sena (UBT) has stated - "The BJP is shameless about this because this incident has happened in the hometown of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern, they resort to violence, riots and this is their set formula in every state. If you look at Manipur, that is exactly what they want to convert Maharashtra to...They are trying to dig up the history of someone who lived 300-400 years ago, but they cannot speak about the future. They cannot speak about the present. The irony is that the grave is protected by the central government"

Residents Share How Nagpur Violence Unfolded Houses were vandalised and vehicles were torched, recounted the residents of Nagpur, narrating how the violence unfolded last night after calls by a right-wing outfit to remove the tomb of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Eyewitnesses claimed the police did not arrive on time and a BJP lawmaker accused them of abandoning "Hindu citizens" in the violence, NDTV reported.