Mumbai, March 18 -- Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Tuesday held Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi responsible for the violence in Nagpur and said that it was a preplanned violence to defame the State government.

"Abu Azmi is responsible for this. He started this issue. This was a preplanned violence to defame the government. We will not spare those who raise their hands on our police personnel. Strict action will be taken in this matter," Rane told media persons.

Abu Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim.

Further, Shiv Sena MP Naresh ...