Hyderabad MP and president of Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi, has retorted to the BJP MlA of Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Som's attack on the historic Taj Mahal and asked whether the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will stop hoisting the national flag from Red Fort as it was also built by the "traitors".
A day after Som triggered a major controversy by questioning the history of Taj Mahal, a monument of love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, Asaduddin wondered whether the Modi Government would stop inviting tourists to visit Taj Mahal as it was built by a “traitor”.
Terming Taj Mahal a blot on Indian culture, Som had recalled that many people were disappointed that the monument was removed from tourism booklet of the UP Government.
"What history are we talking aboutIJ The creator of Taj Mahal (Shah Jahan) imprisoned his father. He wanted to wipe out Hindus. If these people are part of our history, then it is very sad and we will change this history," he said. Som was aggrieved that those who had invaded India were glorified in country's history.
Talking to the media in Hyderabad, Asaduddin alleged that having failed in solving the serious problems like unemployment and economic hardship, the BJP leaders were now resorting to the politics of polarisation before the Gujarat elections. "The Government's priority should be governance but governance has failed in Uttar Pradesh", said Asaduddin, adding that the children continue do die in hospitals because of lack of oxygen.
In a stinging rebuttal to Sangeet Som distorting the history, Asaduddin challenged Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ask the foreign and domestic tourists not to visit Taj Mahal. "As they are blinded by hatred will they carry advertisement asking the tourists not to go to Taj Mahal as as it is in our view symbol of traitors", he asked. Asaduddin tweeted, "Traitors" also built Red Fort, will PM Modi stop hoisting TirangaIJ Can PM Modi & CM Yogi tell domestic and foreign tourists not to visit the Taj mahalIJ"
like Taj Mahal, the magnificent Red Fort in Delhi was also built by Shahjahan who was later imprisoned by his son and successor king Aurangzeb, he wrote.
In the same vein, the MP also asked why the Modi Government continues to host foreign dignitaries at the Hyderabad House in Delhi which was built by the Nizam of Hyderabad.
"Even Hyderabad House in delhi was built by "traitor"will PM Modi stop hosting Foreign DignitariesIJ", he said in another tweet. Asaduddin also took strong objection to the plans of CM Yogi to install a 100 meter tall statue of lord Ram in Ayodhya and said the Government can not spend tax payers money on religious purposes.
Quoting the Supreme Court ruling, Asaduddin said, "Justice Dipak Misra while dealing with the Muslim religious structures demolition case following 2002 Gujarat riots, set aside the Gujarat High Court order allowing State Government to release the compensation for damaged religious sites.
When public money cannot be used for the repair and reconstruction of religious structures, then how can the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath use it for constructing a statue of lord Ram".
On the forthcoming elections in Gujrat, Asaduddin said the people will teach a lesson to Modi and BJP.