BJP's Vinay Katiyar now calls Taj Mahal a Hindu temple - a 'bee in bonnet' theory that Supreme Court once rejected

Is Taj Mahal, a Unesco world heritage site in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, a Hindu temple and not a mausoleum? BJP MP Vinay Katiyar has given his verdict, contrary to what the Supreme Court once rejected as "a bee in the bonnet" theory as well as the Centre's position on the Mughal monument.

According to Katiyar, the Taj Mahal was originally a temple called Tejo Mahalaya dedicated to Lord Shiva. "The (Taj) structure from outside resembles a temple," Katiyar insisted in an exclusive interview with India Today.

But Katiyar's claim isn't unique. He merely reiterated what right-wing historian PN Oak wrote in his 1989 book, 'Taj Mahal: The True Story'. Oak too claimed the monument was built long before the Mughal rule.

But when Oak took his theory to the Supreme Court in 2000, the top court dismissed the historian's petition as a "bee in his bonnet". In its statement to a court in Agra this August, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also said that there was no evidence to suggest the monument ever housed a temple.

TEJO MAHALAYA, NOT TAJ MAHAL: KATIYAR

But Katiyar, one of the main accused in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case, believed Oak more than the culture ministry, the ASI, or the wisdom of the Supreme Court.

"History can't be negated," he remarked. "It (the Taj) was Tejo Mahalaya, housing a Shankar temple before. The structure is the same, with a passage for water to drop down. It's all there," Katiyar claimed.

Katiyar's comments came in the middle of the Opposition attacking the BJP after its Uttar Pradesh MLA Sangeet Som branded the 17-century iconic site as a "blot" on Indian culture .

The BJP MP, however, disagreed with Som for his controversial comments. Katiyar described the monument as a "grand wonder." "No, no. It's not a blot. It still is a wonder monument. It is grand. But it was originally built by a Hindu ruler," insisted the Rajya Sabha member.

Katiyar also supported the idea of renaming the Taj Mahal as Tejo Mahalaya, but opposed any suggestions that it be redesigned. "There's no need to tamper with the structure. But it would be better if it's name could be changed to Tejo Mahalaya," he said. "There's no need to bring any monument down."

UNRELENTING TAJ MAHAL RANT BY BJP

Katiyar's remarks are the latest in a series of controversial statements on the Taj Mahal made by the BJP leaders after the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh did not include the world-famous monument in its tourism booklet.

In a damage control exercise, Adityanath on Tuesday said the Taj Mahal was made by the blood and sweat of Bharat Mata's sons", and its protection was the responsibility of the Uttar Pradesh government.

"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 ," Adityanath said in Gorakhpur. "It is famous the world over for its architecture... it is a historical monument and its protection and further development for tourism is the responsibility of the government," he added.

Adityanath is also scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and other important monuments in Agra next week.

WATCH VIDEO | Taj Mahal was originally a temple called Tejo Mahal dedicated to Lord Shiva, says BJP MP Vinay Katiyar