In an attempt to douse the raging controversy ignited by BJP MlA Sangeet Som over the Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in Gorakhpur on Tuesday that the world-famous monument was made by the “blood and sweat of Bharat Mata’s sons.”
Yogi said he would visit Agra next week to review tourism schemes there, saying it is “immaterial who built the historical monument and its protection is the responsibility of the UP Government.”
Meanwhile, in a touching gesture meant to promote peace and amity between two communities, the UP Shia Central Waqf Board said on Tuesday it would gift ten silver arrows as a mark of respect for the quiver of the statue of lord Ram being built in Ayodhya.
Noting that the construction of the statue was a matter of pride for all Indians, Waqf Board’s chairman Waseem Rizvi said, “The UP Government’s decision to erect a statue of lord Ram is commendable. In keeping with the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of Awadh, these silver arrows will be just a token of admiration and esteem in which we hold lord Ram.”
The Waqf Board’s statement is significant as it came a day after Som ruffled feathers by saying that the Taj Mahal was a ‘blot on Indian culture’.
Som questioned the Taj Mahal’s place in India’s heritage and said history would be rewritten to erase Mughal emperors from it.
“Many were sad when the Taj Mahal was removed from the list of historical places. What kind of historyIJ Whose historyIJ The history that the man, who built the Taj Mahal imprisoned his fatherIJ The history that he wanted to wipe out Hindus from all of Uttar Pradesh and India,” Som had said.
In a clear bid to distance the party from the comments of the BJP leader with a maverick streak, Yogi gave a nationalistic colour to the controversy saying, “It is immaterial as to who, and how the Taj Mahal was built... It was made by the sweat and blood of Bharat Mata’s sons.”
Yogi added, “It is famous the world over for its architecture...It’s a historical monument and its protection and further development for tourism is the responsibility of the Government.”
Announcing that he would visit Agra on October 26, Yogi said it was the duty of the UP Government to ensure that proper security and facilities were extended to tourists.
He said the UP Government had earmarked Rs 370 crore for development of Agra, which includes Rs 157 crore for development of parks around the Taj Mahal.
As per the programme released by Department of Information and Publicity, Yogi is likely to visit the Taj during his trip to Agra.
“Our Government is working for development of tourism for the Kalinjar Fort in Banda, Rani laxmibai’s fort in Jhansi as well as the Chunar Fort in Mirzapur,” he said.
Yogi, who will attend the mega Deepotsava in Ayodhya on October 18, is expected to visit Chitrakoot, another Hindu religious destination, on October 22 to launch several development schemes related to the Ramayana Tourism Circuit.