Khuldabad, home to Aurangzeb's tomb, to be renamed Ratnapur: Maharashtra minister
09-Apr-2025.

Amid a controversy over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Khuldabad, Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat on Apr 8 proposed that the town be renamed Ratnapur.
The AIMIM reacted to the move, challenging the BJP to rename Ahmedabad in BJP-ruled Gujarat.
Khuldabad, a historic town in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, is home to the tomb of Aurangzeb.
It has long been a flashpoint as tensions escalated when right-wing groups, including Bajrang Dal, demanded the tomb's removal, citing the Mughal ruler's brutal torture and death of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji.
Shirsat, the state Social Justice Minister and Guardian Minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, said Khuldabad's original name was Ratnapur and was changed during Aurangzeb's rule.
"He changed the names of several cities, like Dharashiv and Nagar. Wherever 'abad' appears in Maharashtra's place names, such as Daulatabad, we aim to restore their original identities. The Mahayuti government is committed to this process, and renaming Khultabad to Ratnapur aligns with that vision," he said.