Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], March 17 (ANI): Calling Aurangzeb's grave in Shambhaji Nagar a 'symbol of slavery,' Vishva Hindu Parishad Kshetra Mantri for Maharashtra and Goa, Govind Shende on Monday said that they will go on a statewide protest and march towards Sambhajinagar.

'Considering Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary (as per 'Tithi'), today's date has been chosen for the protest... He tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days before killing him... If someone worships a cruel ruler and makes him an icon, then that is unacceptable... Our demand is that this symbol of slavery (Aurangzeb's grave) has to be removed... Why should any signs of him be here?' Shende told ANI.

The VHP leader Shende further asserted that any step which is suitable for the community will be taken.

'The people who had been in power till now did not do anything about this because they did appeasement politics, but that will not work now. We are protesting in the entire Maharashtra. We will give memorandums to district collectors and burn effigies... This is our first step. Then, we will march towards Sambhajinagar in the final step. It will take some time... Any step which is suitable for the community will be taken,' he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan demanded the removal of the Aurangzeb tomb in Sambhajinagar and said that if the government fails to do so, then the tomb will meet the same fate like Babri Masjid.

'In Sambhajinagar, a (Aurangzeb's grave) grave is being worshipped. The grave of Sambhaji's murderer is being built... When such graves are worshipped, then the society also develops in that manner... At that time, we were helpless...but now Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are demanding that it should be removed... On March 17, we will demand to the government that it should be removed... We will greet the government if they remove it, but if that does not happen, then VHP and Bajrang Dal will come out on the streets and launch a huge agitation,' Nitin Mahajan told ANI.

'And we know what happens when the Hindu community carries out an agitation concerning its existence, we all saw what happened in Ayodhya to remove the Babri structure... If the government does not remove the grave, then we will do Karseva and do so ourselves,' he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh also wrote a letter to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking detailed information regarding the funds allocated and spent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the maintenance of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, located in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district.

Singh urged the Central government to consider halting any further expenditure on Aurangzeb's tomb immediately. (ANI)