Abu Azmi moves HC for quashing FIRs

Ten months ago these students were shortlisted for jobs in Germany under a project. But ever since, there has been no communication from the state govt

- Niraj Pandit

MUMBAI: Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi has moved the Bombay high court seeking directions to quash two first information reports (FIR) registered against him in connection with his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The comments were made when he was questioned by reporters on March 3 during the budget session of the legislative assembly.

Azmi had said that Aurangzeb was a good administrator, and the country's gross domestic product (GDP) during his regime was 24%, which had attracted the British to India. Aurangzeb did not take a single rupee from the administration, the borders of his kingdom stretched as far as Burma and Afghanistan, and he had Hindu commanders in his army, Azmi had said.

The remarks caused an uproar in political circles and two FIRs were registered against Azmi —at Wagle Estate police station on March 3 and at Marine Drive police station on March 7.

The complainants alleged that the MLA had hurt religious sentiments as Aurangzeb had destroyed Hindu temples, caused injustice and oppression to the poor and tortured Chhatrapati Shambaji Maharaj.

On March 4, Azmi was suspended from the legislative assembly after parliamentary affairs minister Chandrakant Patil moved a resolution.