The controversy related to the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Krishna Janambhoomi case in Mathura has sparked a row in the entire country. A similar controversy erupted in Maharashtra, after which the Aurangzeb Tomb was shut down by the authorities.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has shut Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb here in Maharashtra for five days after a mosque committee in the area tried to lock the place, an official said on Thursday.
Two days ago, MNS spokesperson Gajanan Kale had in a tweet questioned the need for the monument's existence in the state and said it should be destroyed.
Later, a mosque committee in Aurangabad's Khultabad area, where the tomb is located, tried to lock the monument, which is protected by the ASI. Subsequently, the ASI deployed additional security guards at the monument.
When contacted, ASI's Aurangabad circle superintendent Milan Kumar Chauley told PTI, "Earlier, the mosque committee tried to lock the place, but we opened it. On Wednesday, we took a decision to shut the tomb for the next five days."
"We will review the situation and then decide to open it or to keep it closed for another five days," the official said, as per PTI reports.
Notably, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's visit to the tomb earlier this month was criticised by the ruling Shiv Sena in the state as well as the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Days after Owaisi's visit to the tomb, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had wondered if such an act was aimed at creating a new controversy in Maharashtra which is functioning peacefully.
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This comes in the middle of the Gyanvapi Masjid controversy, where Hindu petitioners are seeking the right to pray inside the mosque, claiming that there used to be a temple inside. The Supreme Court is currently hearing the matter, and a verdict can be announced soon.
(With PTI inputs)
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