Taj Mahal a blot on Indian culture, says BJP's Sangeet Som; Owaisi asks if Modi, Yogi will ban tourists
BJP MLA Sangeet Som, addressing a gathering in Meerut, said the Taj Mahal was a blot on the Indian culture and that its creator wanted to wipe out Hindus.
In Short
- BJP MLA Som has called Taj Mahal a blot on Indian culture.
- He said Shah Jahan wanted to wipe out Hindus.
- BJP has distanced itself from Som's comments.
BJP MLA Sangeet Som has come under fire over comments related to the heritage site Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world.
The BJP MLA, addressing a gathering in Meerut, said that the Taj Mahal was a blot on the Indian culture and that "its creator wanted to wipe out Hindus."
His comments come in the wake of the controversy surrounding the omission of Taj Mahal from the Uttar Pradesh Tourism booklet.
In a response to the critics, Som asked what history were they talking about. He said Taj Mahal's creator Shah Jahan imprisoned his father and wanted to wipe out Hindus.
Sangeet Som said it is unfortunate if people like Shah Jahan were part of the history and his government will change this history.
The Uttar Pradesh tourism booklet was released to mark six months of the Yogi Adityanath government.
The booklet includes Adityanath's Gorakhpur temple but has no mention of the Taj Mahal.
Som has been known for making provocative statements in the past too. However, this time the BJP seems to have distanced itself from the controversy.
Media reports quote Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson, Anila Singh as saying that Som made the statements in his own capacity.
BJP's Sangeet Som says,'Many were sad when Taj Mahal was removed from historical places.What history? Its creator wanted to wipe out Hindus' pic.twitter.com/5OcpJwC4d7- ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2017
Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi in a sharp rebuttal said that traitors also built the Red Fort and asked if PM Modi would stop hoisting the national flag.
In a series of tweets he even asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath will ask domestic and foreign tourists to not visit Taj Mahal.
"Traitors"also build Red Fort will MODI stop hoisting Tiranga ?Can MODI & YOGI tell domestic & foreign tourist not to visit TAJ MAHAL? https://t.co/3dyDsv7b4e- Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 16, 2017
He even said that the Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by 'traitor' and if PM Modi stop hosting foreign dignitaries.