'Aurangzeb wasn't a tyrant, he created Akhand Bharat': Cong MP Imran Masood

Amid the ongoing controversy over Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in Maharashtra, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, Imran Masood, stated that he does not consider Aurangzeb a tyrant. Instead, he credited the Mughal emperor for a unified India.

In an interview with a private TV news channel, Masood was asked whether he believed Aurangzeb was not a tyrant. Dismissing the claim, he responded, “Tyrant? What are you talking about? He ruled the country as an emperor for 49 years, and you are calling him a tyrant? How are you calling him a tyrant? He ruled for 49 years—where was the GDP during his reign? What are you saying? You should read history!”

Defending Aurangzeb’s legacy, Masood questioned, “He was one of the emperors of Hindustan. Will you deny the fact that he was an emperor of Hindustan?”

When asked about allegations that Aurangzeb had demolished temples, Masood responded by asserting that “During Aurangzeb’s reign, Akhand Bharat (Undivided India) was formed.”

He further stated, “I am neither criticizing nor praising anyone. But I am saying—don’t spread incomplete knowledge. First, read history.”

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, who recently sparked controversy by praising Aurangzeb as a good ruler who built many temples, was suspended from the Maharashtra State Assembly till the conclusion of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday.