Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy wrote a letter to the United Nations Secretary General demanding to ensure the safety of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Shambhaji Nagar
Hyderabad: In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, claiming to be a descendant of the final Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, asks for the preservation of Aurangzeb’s mausoleum at Shambhaji Nagar.
The demand, which was made during a demonstration calling for the demolition of Aurangzeb’s Tomb in Kuldabad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district (previously Aurangabad), Maharashtra, came over a month after violence broke out in Nagpur.
The burial has been designated a ‘Monument of National Importance’ and is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, according to Prince Yakub, who also claims that he is the Mutawalli (caretaker) of the Waqf site where the Mughal Emperor’s tomb is located.
“As per the provisions of the said Act, no unauthorized construction, alteration, destruction, or excavation can be undertaken at or near the protected monument, and any such activity would be deemed illegal and punishable under law,” the letter that was sent to the Secretary-General said.
He criticized the condition of the tomb and said that security guards needed to be sent in to keep it safe.
“Due to the misrepresentation of historical factions through films, media outlets, and social platforms, the manipulation of public sentiment has been enabled, resulting in unwarranted protests, hate campaigns and symbolic acts of aggression such as the burning of effigies,” the letter said.
Additionally, he emphasized the duty imposed by international law to “protect and conserve cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.”
In addition to mentioning India’s signature of the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the letter said that “Any act of destruction, neglect, or unlawful alteration of such monuments would amount to a violation of international obligations.”
He called on the office of the UN Secretary-General to take note of the situation and order the Central Government and ASI to guarantee that Aurangzeb’s burial receives “full legal protection, security and preservation in accordance with national and international laws.”
Violence erupted in Nagpur on March 17. According to rumors that a community’s sacred book was set on fire during an agitation, some parties had asked that Aurangzeb’s burial be removed, and stones had been thrown at police. Since then, 92 individuals have been taken into custody.
