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Abu Azmi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the issue, alleging that the saffron party is annoyed with Muslims.
SP Leader Abu Azmi. (File photo)
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on Monday praised Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan amid an ongoing row over Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal’s remarks comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan, saying that the latter was cruel to the British and his picture is in the Constitution alongside Rani Lakshmibai.
“Mujahids of freedom, Hazrat Tipu Sultan, was cruel, but to the British. His picture is in the Constitution alongside Rani Lakshmibai. His history is written not just in our country, but across the entire world, and it cannot be erased. If one wants to know about him, one should read history,” he said.
मुजाहिदे आज़ादी हज़रत टीपू सुलतान क्रूर थे, लेकिन अंग्रेज़ों के लिए। संविधान में रानी लक्ष्मी बाई के साथ उनकी तस्वीर है। उनका इतिहास सिर्फ हमारे देश में नहीं, पूरी दुनिया में लिखा हुआ है, जो मिटाया नहीं जा सकता। उनके बारे में जानना है तो इतिहास पढ़ना चाहिए। 2024 में बॉम्बे हाई… pic.twitter.com/2IUZxMfMUW— Abu Asim Azmi (@abuasimazmi) February 16, 2026
The SP leader further claimed that in 2024, the Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra government to grant permission to celebrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary in Pune, lifting an earlier ban.
Azmi also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the issue, alleging that the saffron party is annoyed with Muslims and instigates Hindu-Muslim issues to divide people.
“The BJP is not annoyed with Tipu Sultan, but with Muslims, as it is ruling by merely bringing up Hindu-Muslim issues to divide people,” he added.
What’s The Row?
The controversy began on Saturday after Sapkal cited Tipu Sultan’s call for battle against the British as an ideal similar to Shivaji Maharaj’s idea of ‘Swarajya’ while discussing historical examples of valour.
“The kind of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the concept of ‘swarajya’ that he introduced… much later, following in that very tradition and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged war against the British,” Sapkal had said while addressing reporters.
Sapkal also alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was attempting to twist his remarks to create a Hindu-Muslim controversy.
He was responding in the backdrop of a dispute over a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of Malegaon municipal corporation’s deputy mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed. The portrait has been opposed by Shiv Sena and other right-wing groups.
Following a complaint by BJP city chief Dhiraj Ghate, a case was registered against Sapkal under sections 192, 196(1), 196(2), 352, and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The complaint alleged that Sapkal’s remarks hurt the sentiments of Hindus and could disturb communal harmony.
Ghate claimed the statement hurt the sentiments of Hindus “who believe and consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as God.” Police said further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly condemned the comparison.
“We keep Shivaji Maharaj’s ideals in front and work. PM Narendra Modi also keeps him as an idol. Tipu Sultan and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can’t be compared. Shivaji Maharaj is Maharaj. I strongly condemn the statement of comparison between them; they cannot be compared,” Shinde said.
February 16, 2026, 16:03 IST
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