India, March 3 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi on Monday triggered a massive controversy with him calling Mughal emperor Aurangzeb a "good administrator". Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde dubbed the comment "treason" and called for legal action against the politician.

Abu Azmi, known for his controversial statements on sensitive issues, praised Aurangzeb claiming that he was not a ruthless leader.

"The kings back then used to struggle for power and property but it was nothing religious. He (Aurangzeb) ruled for 52 years, and if he was converting Hindus into Muslims, imagine the number of Hindus that would have converted," Azmi told ANI.

"If Aurangzeb Rahmatullah had destroyed temples, he also destroyed mosques....