Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed support for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. However, he has stressed that any such action must comply with legal provisions since the site is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a status granted during the previous Congress-led government.

Speaking at an event on Saturday night, Fadnavis said, “We all want the same thing, but it has to be done within the framework of the law. The site was given ASI protection during the Congress regime some years ago.”

The demand for removing Aurangzeb’s tomb was initially raised by BJP’s Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Bhosale’s call for action gained traction in the political landscape, prompting a response from the Maharashtra CM.

The debate around Aurangzeb’s legacy in Maharashtra has been reignited, especially after Maharashtra Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi recently made statements praising the Mughal ruler. His remarks sparked widespread criticism, leading to his suspension from the Maharashtra legislative assembly until the end of the budget session on March 26.

The ongoing dispute between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the imposition of Hindi escalated further, with sharp exchanges between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The row over the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) ignited a storm in Parliament and beyond, as Tamil Nadu’s ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) strongly opposed the Centre’s move, calling it an attempt at “Hindi imposition.”

Heated exchange in Parliament

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, speaking in the Lok Sabha, accused the DMK of “ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students” by resisting the new education policy. His remarks, including a controversial term for Tamil Nadu, were later withdrawn from the Parliament’s records. He claimed that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to implement the NEP, only to retract its decision later due to “political motives.”

Pradhan further alleged internal rifts within the DMK had fueled this stand-off and accused the party of using language politics to influence voters in upcoming elections. His comments triggered a protest from DMK MPs inside and outside the Parliament, forcing an adjournment of proceedings for 30 minutes.

Stalin hits back at centre

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a strong counterattack on social media, condemning Pradhan’s statements and calling him an “arrogant king.” Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu would not accept the three-language policy and accused the Centre of attempting to force it upon the state.

“The Union Education Minister, who thinks of himself as a king and speaks arrogantly, needs to be disciplined!” Stalin wrote, questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed Pradhan’s remarks.

The Tamil Nadu CM also demanded a clear response from the Prime Minister regarding the Centre’s alleged threats to withhold education funds unless the state complied with the three-language formula. Stalin had previously called this move “blackmail” and reiterated that the state had “completely rejected the National Education Policy.”

BJP vs DMK: The battle over language

The war of words extended beyond Stalin and Pradhan, with BJP leader and former Tamil Nadu Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan accusing the DMK of denying underprivileged students the opportunity to learn a third language. “If students from affluent families can learn three languages, why not the poor?” she questioned.

On the other hand, DMK leaders Dayanidhi Maran and K Kanimozhi countered the BJP’s claims, stating that Tamil Nadu never agreed to the NEP’s three-language policy. “We are not against Hindi, but it should not be forced. Our students should not be made to learn three languages while students in the north study only one,” Maran argued.

The ‘Hindi imposition’ debate

The imposition of Hindi has been a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu, with historical roots tracing back to the violent anti-Hindi protests of the 1960s. The DMK argues that the state’s two-language policy (Tamil and English) has served its people well, negating the need for a third language. Meanwhile, the BJP maintains that a uniform language policy will help students seeking opportunities outside Tamil Nadu.

In a recent interview, Pradhan accused the DMK of creating a “false narrative” and depriving students of national integration and better career prospects. However, Stalin fired back, reminding the Centre that past attempts to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu had failed, emphasizing that the state “will not tolerate Hindi colonialism replacing British colonialism.”

Jaipur hosted the grand 2025 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, marking its 25th anniversary with a star-studded event. The night witnessed the triumph of Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which bagged ten prestigious awards, making it the biggest winner of the evening.

Among the major highlights, Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award for his performance in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, while Nitanshi Goel was honored with Best Actress for her role in Laapataa Ladies. Raghav Juyal received accolades for his menacing portrayal in Kill, earning the Best Performance in a Negative Role award.

Complete list of winners:

Major Awards:

Best Picture – Laapataa Ladies

Best Performance In A Leading Role (Male) – Kartik Aaryan (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)

Best Performance In A Leading Role (Female) – Nitanshi Goel (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Direction – Kiran Rao (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Performance In A Negative Role – Raghav Juyal (Kill)

Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Female) – Janki Bodiwala (Shaitaan)

Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Male) – Ravi Kishan (Laapataa Ladies)

Writing and Technical Excellence:

Best Story (Original) – Biplab Goswami (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Story (Adapted) – Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, Anukriti Pandey (Merry Christmas)

Best Screenplay – Sneha Desai (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Dialogue – Arjun Dhawan, Aditya Dhar, Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Monal Thaakar (Article 370)

Best Editing – Jabeen Merchant (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Cinematography – Rafey Mahmood (Kill)

Best Sound Design – Subash Sahoo, Boloy Kumar Doloi, Rahul Karpe (Kill)

Best Special Effects – Red Chillies VFX (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)

Music and Choreography:

Best Music Director – Ram Sampath (Laapataa Ladies)

Best Lyrics – Prashant Pandey (Sajni from Laapataa Ladies)

Best Singer (Male) – Jubin Nautiyal (Dua from Article 370)

Best Singer (Female) – Shreya Ghoshal (Ami Je Tomar 3.0 from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)

Best Choreography – Bosco-Caesar (Tauba Tauba from Bad Newz)

Debut and Special Honors:

Best Directorial Debut – Kunal Kemmu (Madgaon Express)

Best Debut (Male) – Lakshya Lalwani (Kill)

Best Debut (Female) – Pratibha Ranta (Laapataa Ladies)

Outstanding Achievement In Indian Cinema – Rakesh Roshan

Memorable Moments

The evening was lit up with breathtaking performances by Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, and Kareena Kapoor. A major highlight was Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor’s on-stage reunion, where they shared a heartfelt hug, setting social media abuzz.

With its grand celebration and dazzling winners, the IIFA Awards 2025 proved to be a remarkable night for Indian cinema.