On Sunday, the Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS) organized a rally in Maharashtra's Aurangabad in support of the government's decision to rename the city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The SHS is a conglomeration of various right-wing organizations and affiliated outfits. Thousands of SHS activists gathered in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar early in the morning and raised the slogan of 'Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhawani.'
Cooperation Minister Atul Save, along with activists from various right-wing outfits including the BJP, RSS, and the VHP, participated in the rally. Save said, "Today's Sakal Hindu Samaj rally is to express our support for renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar. And it is justified. Why should we retain the name of a Mughal ruler who tortured our own king Shambhajimaharaj."
However, the Lakhs of citizens has opposed the renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar. Auragabad supporting groups has previously held demonstrations outside the city district collector's office protesting against the renaming.
MP Jaleel withdrew his chain protest that was running from 14 days. "It is my duty to ensure communal harmony in the city. On Sunday, some right-wing Hindu organizations are holding a rally. I do not want any untoward incident to happen," he remarked. On February 24, the Union Home Ministry formally approved Maharashtra's proposal to rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad. The notification stated, "Aurangabad will be called Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Osmanabad Dharashiv."
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have thanked the Centre for accepting the state's proposal. The SHS, which has taken to the streets supporting the renaming, has been pursuing the Hindutva agenda. In the last five months, it held more than 50 big and small rallies and corner meetings against 'love jihad' and 'land jihad' across Maharashtra.
Given the backdrop, many viewed Sunday's SHS rally at Sambhajinagar as a ploy to polarize the communally sensitive district that has a sizable 21.25 percent Muslim population. Commenting on Jaleel's opposition to the name change, BJP Minister Save said, "Let Imtiaz Jaleel first give the name of Aurangzeb to a member in his own family. And then show affection for the city."