‘This is the childishness’: Akhilesh Yadav defends Abu Azmi after suspension from Maharashtra assembly

The political row over Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi continued as he was suspended from the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday over his comment praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, said the action against him was taken despite him retracting his remark.

In a video statement released by his office, Azmi asserted he had not said anything wrong, but retracted the remark, which he made outside the assembly, to ensure the House functions.

‘Still I was suspended,’ he said.

Earlier in the day, the state assembly passed a motion unanimously by a voice vote to suspend Azmi from the House till the end of the budget session.

Members of the treasury benches said Azmi’s remark eulogising Aurangzeb was a insult of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

The budget session of the state legislature will end on March 26.

Azmi, president of the Samajwadi Party’s state unit, had said that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).

His comments rocked both houses of the state legislature on Tuesday, with members of the ruling side demanding his suspension and that he be booked for treason.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defends Azmi

Defending his party leader, Akhilesh Yadav took to X and wrote, ” If the basis of suspension begins to be influenced by ideology, then what difference will remain between freedom of expression and dependence? Be it our legislators or parliamentarians, their fearless wisdom is unparalleled. If some people think that ‘suspension’ can put a rein on the tongue of truth, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking.

The free thought says today, we don’t want BJP!”

Yogi asks party to expel Abu Azmi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked the Samajwadi Party to take a stand on Azmi’s remarks, demanding that it must expel him for glorifying the Mughal ruler.Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil moved the motion of suspension of Azmi from the House for the remainder of the session’s term.Members of the treasury benches said Aurangzeb’s praise amounted to an insult of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.