Muslims should be allowed to offer prayers at Taj Mahal: Lucknow Imam

Lucknow, Nov 20: Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan has said that the Taj Mahal should be declared as Waqf Board property.

Speaking at a meeting of Muslim leaders in Lucknow recently, Azam who is also Waqf Minister of UP said that Waqf Board of the State should be given charge of Taj Mahal.

Meanwhile, according to report in India Today, Lucknow Eidgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli, has demanded to throw open the monument to Muslims.

"We should be allowed to offer prayers at the Taj Mahal five times a day. We have handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister and he has taken it positively,"Rasheed was quoted as saying in media report.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has asked for e-ticketing system for the historical monument which is considered as one of seven wonders of the world. Akhilesh said that domestic and international tourists are forced to stand in queues for hours at Archeaological Survey of India (ASI) windows to buy tickets. He said the State Government was assured by the Union Culture Ministry that e-ticketing would start in 2014 but nothing has happened so far.

Akhilesh also pressed for an airport like security at Taj Mahal. He said security should be enchanced at the Taj Mahal. He said Xray machines, Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) and frisking machines should be put inside the monument. This will give a fillip to both domestic and foreign tourist flow in the Taj City.

OneIndia News