Taj Mahal must be preserved as it was built by Indian labourers: Yogi

Yogi had earlier said that the Taj Mahal was built by "the sweat and blood" of Indians.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that Taj Mahal must be preserved and its security must be ensured as it was built by the "blood and sweat" of the Indian labourers.

Yogi's remark came a week after BJP MLA Sangeet Som had termed Taj Mahal as a blot on Indian culture and said that it was built by traitors.

"Taj Mahal was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers. The onus if its security & preservation lies on our shoulders," he said in Agra.

The UP Chief Minister also lashed out at those opposing his Taj Mahal visit. He said that those questioning his Agra visit have divided the society on the lines of caste.

He said schemes worth Rs 235 crore were launched in Agra today.

"Agra is a place where there are five world heritage sites," he added.

In what can be seen as an attempt douse the raging controversy over BJP leaders' recent remarks on Taj Mahal, Adityanath on Thursday visited the 17th-century monument in Agra. Adityanath is the first BJP CM of UP to visit the Taj Mahal.

The UP Chief Minister weilded broom at the Western Gate of Taj Mahal and took part in a cleanliness drive.

Yogi enters Taj premises

Over 14,000 policemen have been deployed across the city for the security of Adityanath, who arrived here early this morning. Adityanath is the first BJP CM of UP to visit the monument of love. His decision to visit the Taj Mahal was announced after a series of controversies erupted, beginning with a UP tourism department booklet not mentioning the monument in its list of development projects in the state.

Renovation of Shahjahan Park

He will laid foundation for the development of a tourist pathway from the Taj Mahal to the Agra Fort besides. The chief minister has already declared that the state government will spend Rs 370 crore on development plans aimed at promoting tourism in the city of Taj. Adityanath also stayed for half an hour at the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and visited the Shah Jahan park nearby.

Yogi on cleanliness drive

Donning a mask and wielding a broom, Adityanath swept a parking area outside the Taj Mahal. Yogi, accompanied by dozens of officials and police commandos, wore yellow gloves, a white cap and an anti- pollution mask to sweep litter at the west gate of the Taj Mahal along with 500 BJP members.

Yogi wields broom

His visit comes almost a week after BJP MLA Sangeet Som stirred a controversy by saying that the Taj Mahal was built by traitors and was a 'blot' on Indian culture.

UP Minsiter Rita Bahuguna Joshi tried distance the government from Som's remark and said the views expressed by the Sardhana MLA were "personal".

Cleanliness drive Taj's western gate

A few days later, some members of Rashtra Swabhimaan Dal (RSD) and Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) chanted 'Shiv Chalisa' on the premises of the Taj Mahal. BJP MP Vinay Katiyar backed this and said youths chanting Shiv Chalisa should not be condemned as Taj mahal was once a Shiva Temple.

Several BJP leaders have in the past gone on to state that the Taj Mahal was in reality a temple.

The UP Chief Minister has already declared that the state government will spend Rs 370 crore on development plans aimed at promoting tourism in the city of Taj .

(Image coutesy - Twitter/@CMOfficeUP)

OneIndia with PTI inputs