Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath amidst the controversies on Taj Mahal visits the monument today. He is the first Cheif Miniter of UP to visit Taj Mahal. Principal secretary, tourism, Awanish Awasthi had earlier informed that during his visit, he will be inspecting various places inside and outside of the monument.
This visit of Yogi Adityanath comes in a wake after a series of controversies erupted regarding Taj Mahal. The ruckus regarding the monument began when Taj Mahal was not mentioned in the list of development projects in the state was issued in the Uttar Pradesh tourism department booklet.
The UP Chief Minister, prior to his visit had declared that the state government will spend Rs 370 crore on development plans aimed at promoting tourism in Agra.
Soon after the list of developments projects was issued, the controversies were triggered by a statement made by a BJP leader. Sangeet Som had said that Taj Mahal is a blot on the Indian history and the makers of the monument were traitors.
Reacting to the remarks of Sangeet, Yogi Adityanath had said that it does not matter who built the monument, but the sweat and blood of the Indian had built Taj Mahal. Recently at a rally in Gorakhpur, Yogi had also termed Taj as the pride of India and called it a world-class monument. However, this remark of Yogi was totally contradicting his earlier statement, that he made at a rally in Bihar last year.
He had said that Taj does not represent the culture of India and the foreign dignitaries who visited India should be gifted with Gita rather than with the replicas of Taj Mahal.
Adding to the heated matter of Taj Mahal, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had claimed that, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who is believed to be the maker of Taj Mahal, stole the land on which it was built. In his statement to the press, Swamy had said that “There is evidence on record that Shah Jahan forced the Raja-Maharajas of Jaipur to sell the land on which Taj Mahal is standing, and he gave them a compensation of forty villages, which is nothing compared to the property’s value.”
While another BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said that before the Mughal emperor captured the and, there used to be Shiv temple. He, refusing to call the monument as Taj Mahal, claimed that “It is Tejo Mahal. Taj Mahal used to be a temple of Shankar. Shah Jahan then buried his wife there.” He added: “Hindu kings had built the Tejo Mahal. It was so famous that Shah Jahan later captured it.”
Meanwhile responding to the exclusion of Taj Mahal from the list of development projects the minister in charge of religious affairs and culture, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, said that keeping out the Taj Mahal was necessary because the current government in Uttar Pradesh is “rashtravadi (nationalist)” and runs on “dharm niti (religious policy).” He argued that the Taj Mahal should be replaced by Guru Gorakhnath peeth instead.
“Taj Mahal is not the symbol of any religion and (it is) nobody’s. It does not represent any religion… On the other hand, Gorakhnath peeth represents people’s faith,” Chaudhary had further added.
Amid all these controversial statements, Yogi Adityanath today visited Taj Mahal. Keeping in mind the security arrangements, 14,000 policemen were deployed in the city prior to the CM’s visit.
Yogi Adityanath reached the Monument and wearing yellow gloves, a white cap, and an anti-pollution mask kickstarted the cleanliness programme from the west gate of the Taj Mahal along with 500 BJP members.
आज ताज महल पश्चिमी गेट पर स्वच्छता अभियान कार्यक्रम में हिस्सा लिया। pic.twitter.com/MsOBUtaRj1
— Yogi Adityanath (मोदी का परिवार) (@myogiadityanath) October 26, 2017
During his tour, of Taj Mahal, Yogi also gave instructions for the cleanup of Yamuna and also visited the Mughal museum, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 141 crore and later watched, Mohabbat, The Taj show at Kalakriti Auditorium.
Meanwhile Yogi was on his tour of the seventh wonder of the world Agra North MLA Jagan Prasad Garg, in his statement to the press said that “Several historians believe that there was a Shiva temple at the same place where the Taj Mahal is located. Mughals first demolished the Shiva temple and then built the Taj Mahal. It is a fact.” None the less he also added that the BJP believes in the Taj Mahal and acknowledge its importance.
After watching the show at the kalakriti auditorium, Yogi Adityanath along with other BJP leaders inaugurated the Jan Sabha. While addressing the gathering at the Jan Sabha, Yogi said that all the people who had criticised Yogi’s visit to Taj Mahal are the people who practiced corruption and communal divide.
This statement of Yogi was an indirect indication towards Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh earlier in the morning on Thursday had commented that Yogi’s visit to Taj Mahal was a wonder of Lord Ram. He said that “See how time changes…BJP did not consider it as a heritage…and now the CM is cleaning West Gate of Taj Mahal with a ‘jhadu‘ (broom). It’s good that SP workers from Agra have come here, otherwise, they would have used broom at West Gate of Taj. He (CM) is wielding broom there. We have nothing to do with it. It is Lord Rama’s ‘Kamaal‘.”
President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi had also commented that the CM should clean people’s mind in his party and Cabinet instead of cleaning the Taj Mahal.
Instead of sweeping at Taj Mahal,UP CM must clean ppl's mind in his party&cabinet:Asaduddin Owaisi on UP CM's cleanliness drive at #TajMahal pic.twitter.com/4r1wGiwoIi
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2017
Addressing the gathering Yogi said that there are five heritage sites in Agra and the Agra tourism should be safeguarded.He added that after the safety and security measures were improved in the state, the number of tourists have increased in Uttar Pradesh. He further informed that the Yogi government had laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 235 crore in Agra.
#UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने आगरा में 235 करोड़ रुपये की लागत की योजनाओं का शिलान्यास और लोकार्पण किया। pic.twitter.com/lzqjy2yczT
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) October 26, 2017
Pointing out the incomplete work of the previous government, Adityanath said that the Yogi government was also trying to complete the leftover works of the previous government. The Chief Minister also approved an amount of Rs 65 crore for the construction and development of Agra airport. He further added that currently around 40-50 thousand tourists visit Agra everyday, but if better amenities and adequate security is provided the number could increased to 2.5 lakh to 3 lakhs.
Attacking the previous governments, Yogi said that for the past 15 years, in the name of growth, only corruption and criminals have grown in Uttar Pradesh.
15 वर्षों में सिर्फ अपराधियों का विकास हुआ और भ्रष्टाचार ही बढ़ा : मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/73JfeOqfxw
— BJP Uttar Pradesh (@BJP4UP) October 26, 2017
Addressing the gathering Yogi announced that if the government gets the permission form the supreme court, it will build a rubber dam, with a budget of around Rs 350 crore, across Yamuna. He also informed that the inner ring road will also be ready soon.
Asking the police to take strict actions regarding the Fatehpur Sikri incident, Yogi said that “We are trying to improve connectivity in Agra and Uttar Pradesh. Indian and foreign tourists are all equal to us as ‘atithis’, we believe in atithi devo bhava. So we have to take strict action in the Fatehpur Sikri case.” He further added that it is the job of the state government to safegaurd the tourists and tourism in Agra.
This statement of the CM comes in wake of the recent incident that took place Agra’s Fatehpur Sikri, where a Swiss couple reported that they were strolling the railway station at the Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when a group started following them and later attacked them.
#UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने फ़तेहपुर सीकरी की घटना पर कठोरतम कार्रवाई करने के निर्देश दिए हैं। https://t.co/3fll7i1Ilg
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) October 26, 2017
He also added that the UP government will formulate new policies and police strategies to provide security to the tourists. Yogi said that the government will not be lenient with anybody who misbehaves with the tourists in Uttar Pradesh. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also sought a report from the state government regarding the attack on the Swiss couple.
During his specch, Yogi Adityanath said that the UP government is also trying to connect different tourist spots of Uttar Pradesh through better air transportation and the government is also Working towards an opportunity of Metro railway in Agra.
यूपी के शहरों को हवाई यातायात से आपस में जोड़ने के लिए हम काम कर रहे हैं : सीएम श्री @myogiadityanath #UPCMInAgra pic.twitter.com/ch1YGl7AUh
— BJP Uttar Pradesh (@BJP4UP) October 26, 2017
Concluding his speech, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that the government has started a cleanliness drive in Agra that will help in beautifying the city.
आज आगरा में व्यापक स्वच्छता अभियान की भी शुरुआत की गयी है। इसमें आम जनमानस के जुड़ने से शहर की छवि और निखरेगीः #UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath pic.twitter.com/Ix8mvp2pqG
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) October 26, 2017