Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly until the end of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday, following his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. State Minister Chandrakant Patil moved the motion for suspension in the House, which was passed by a voice vote.

Azmi, who is the president of the Samajwadi Party’s state unit, had stated that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s borders extended to Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar). His comments caused a stir in both houses of the state legislature on Tuesday, with members of the ruling side calling for his suspension and for him to be charged with treason.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Azmi claimed that his statements had been distorted and subsequently retracted his remarks.