Sparks fly in Maharashtra over a Tipu Sultan portrait in Malegaon’s Deputy Mayor office, prompting SP leader Abu Azmi to decry it as yet another ploy in the Hindu-Muslim political chess game. With India’s constitutional framework as his anchor, Azmi argued that figures like Tipu Sultan and Rani Lakshmibai are integral to the nation’s shared heritage of resistance against oppressors.
Azmi traced the saga of Tipu’s controversies, from banned commemorations to the High Court’s green light in 2024. He lauded Tipu as an indomitable fighter whose wars against the British were pivotal to freedom struggles. Skeptical of temple-breaking allegations, Azmi urged specifics: ‘Name the temple, the date—prove it.’ He underscored Tipu’s era of economic excellence, surpassing even British metrics, and his patronage of temples through grants and oversight.
Amid today’s surge in attacks on places of worship, Azmi positioned himself firmly against such acts, whether mosques or temples. He saw no harm in the Deputy Mayor’s office decor, slamming it as government-fueled division tactics. Invoking Babri Masjid, he probed the hypocrisy in historical reckonings.
Optimistically, Azmi celebrated India’s cricket win over Pakistan, calling it a lesson in humility for opponents and a unifier for Indians. His forthright commentary paints a picture of a leader pushing back against manufactured conflicts, championing peace and factual history in a polarized landscape.