Taj built by sweat of Indians: Yogi

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, October 17

A day after BJP MLA Sangeet Som called Taj Mahal a blot on Indian culture built by traitors, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tried to control some damage on Tuesday.

Yogi, who sources said was displeased with Som’s remarks and reportedly called him to give an explanation, today said: “Yeh mahatva nahi rakhta ke kisney aur kin karano se iska nirmal karaya. Yeh Bhartiye mazdooron ke khoon aur paseene se banaya gaya hai. Taj Mahal hamarey liye behad mahatwapurn hai. Khaas taur par tourism ke nazariye se yeh zyada mahatva rakhta hai... Wahan paryatakon ke liye suvidhayen aur suraksha muhaiya karane ki zimmedari hamari hai (It is not important who built the Taj Mahal or why it was built. It was built by the hard work and sweat of Indian labourers. Taj Mahal is very important for us, especially from the tourism point of view. Providing tourist facilities and ensuring their security is our responsibility).”

He said the historic monument was a significant tourist attraction and also announced that he would visit Agra on October 26.

Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi described Som’s views about the Taj Mahal as his “individual opinion”. She said her government had already sanctioned Rs 155 crore for the Taj and the development of parks and various facilities in and around the monument.

Avanish Awasthi, principal secretary of tourism and information, said the CM was scheduled to visit the Taj and Agra fort and review tourism and other schemes for Agra’s development on October 26.

On Som’a remark, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi said the same “traitors” — a word Som used in his speech — had also built Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the Tiranga (Tricolour) on Independence Day.

In a series of tweets Owaisi had asked: “Can Modi and Yogi tell domestic and foreign tourists not to visit Taj Mahal? Even Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by ‘traitor’. Will Modi stop hosting foreign dignitaries?”

Samajwadi Party leader Mohd Azam Khan had also mockingly asked the state government to demolish the Taj as well as Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan, as they all were built by imperialist rulers.

Speaking at a public meeting in Sisauli village of Meerut, Som had questioned Taj Mahal’s place in Indian history and called it a blot on Indian culture.

According to Som, the person who built the Taj Mahal had “imprisoned his father” and had targeted the Hindus of UP and India. 

‘Demolish Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament’

I have always held the view that all symbols of slavery should be erased. Why only Taj Mahal? Why not Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Qutub Minar and Red Fort? These are all symbols of slavery. —Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party Gen Secy

‘Can Modi, Yogi keep tourists away?’

Can Modi and Yogi tell domestic and foreign tourists not to visit Taj Mahal? Even Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by 'traitors'. Will Modi stop hosting foreign dignitaries? — Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM Parliamentarian