MUMBAI: The Maharashtra legislature witnessed a political storm on Monday after Congress state chief Harshvardhan Sapkal compared Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The controversial remark, made during a public event, sparked outrage in both houses of the state legislature, with members of the ruling Mahayuti coalition demanding strict action against Sapkal.

On Sunday, Sapkal reportedly accused Fadnavis of being "equally cruel" as Aurangzeb, criticizing his focus on religious issues while neglecting pressing matters such as the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The statement led to disruptions in the legislative assembly and council, with BJP leaders condemning it as an insult to Maharashtra.

BJP group leader Pravin Darekar called for legal action against Sapkal, emphasizing the need to set a precedent against such remarks in the future. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar assured lawmakers that the comments would be verified and appropriate action would be taken as per the law. Several Congress leaders however rushed to defend Sapkal's statement and said that nothing personal was said against any leader. Congress leader Bhai Jagtap refuted the allegations, claiming that Sapkal never made such a statement.

Sapkal later clarified that his comments were not personal but intended to draw a comparison between governance styles. He however defended his words, claiming that they were a direct reflection of the harsh reality faced by the people of Maharashtra under Fadnavis' leadership. "The governance under Fadnavis is as harsh and cruel as the rulers of the past. What I said is not a mistake but the painful truth," he said.