Mumbai/IBNS: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Monday supported the call for the removal of the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from Khulabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

However, he said this has to be done according to law as the previous Congress government had protected the tomb by handing it over to the Archaeological Society of India (ASI).

"We all also want the same thing, but you need to do it within the framework of the law, because it is a protected site. The site was put under ASI's protection during the Congress regime some years back," Fadnavis was quoted as saying by NDTV.

This comes after BJP's Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, who is a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had demanded that the tomb be razed.

"What is the need... send a JCB machine and raze his grave... he was a thief and lootera (robber)," he said.

"Those who visit Aurangzeb's tomb and pay homage may be his future. They should take that tomb to their own homes, but the glorification of Aurangzeb will not be tolerated anymore," he said.

"Strict action" should be taken against those who give "wrong statements about Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj, Rajmata Jijau Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj," he added.

This was seen as a dig at Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, who had recently praised Aurangzeb.

On March 4, BJP leader Navneet Rana also demanded the demolition of Aurangzeb's grave.

"I want to request Maharashtra government that the way Aurangabad's name was changed and kept after our God Sambhaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb's grave should also be demolished," the former BJP MP asserted.

Last week, Abu Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till the end of the budget session over his remarks praising Aurangzeb.

Calling the Mughal emperor a great administrator, Azmi had said he was depicted wrongly in history.