Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c6.s6.25

v1.c6.s6.25

Amir Khān on his return to power showered all his favour on his new protege Safdar Jang and displayed a mean jealousy of Asad Yār Khān whom he himself had once raised from obscurity to the Emperor’s notice. On 24th September 1744, he caused Asad Yār to be removed from the absentee governorship of Kashmir in order to make room for Safdar Jang. He next induced the Emperor to disband the *Shamshir dāgh* altogether on the ground of retrenchment. The soldiers' salary was then in arrears for nine months. When Asad Yār begged the Emperor to pay the sum due (Rs. 22½ laghs), Amir Khān objected to the payment saying that the men had enjoyed their salary for 4½ years but done nothing for the State. The weak Emperor therefore refused to clear their arrears. The soldiers, on hearing of it, marched round the palace in a riotous crowd and meeting Amir Khān, on his way to the audience, in the streets, abused him heartily and pelted him with brick-bats.