A day after BJP MLA Sangeet Som declared that the Taj Mahal was a "blot on India culture", Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath broke his silence on the issue and said that it does not matter who built it and for what reason. "It was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers."
Adityanath also announced his plan to visit the monument on 26 October. The chief minister will reach Agra on 25 October, ANI reported.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be in Agra on 25th October, will visit Taj Mahal and other monuments in the city.
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017
#NewsAlert - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister will visit the Taj Mahal on October 26 pic.twitter.com/MVY1ggss3a — News18 (@CNNnews18) October 17, 2017
The visit by the chief minister, which comes a day after Som's remarks on the Taj, is seen as BJP's attempts at damage control. The Uttar Pradesh government found itself in a hard place when media reported that the government failed to feature the UNESCO world heritage site in their tourism booklet called 'Uttar Pradesh Paryatan-Apaar Sambhavnayen'. Som on Monday had called the Taj Mahal 'a blot on Indian culture.'
Speaking to ANI, Adityanath referred to the controversy and said that the Taj Mahal is very important, especially from the perspective of tourism, "it is our priority to provide facilities and safety to tourists there (Agra)."
It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers: UP CM Yogi Adityanath #TajMahalpic.twitter.com/KSFU56KIRz
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017
It is very imp for us, especially from tourism perspective it is our priority to provide facilities & safety to tourists there: CM #TajMahalpic.twitter.com/exOCYL0YgD — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017
Speaking to India Today, Adityanath said that he does not agree with Som's remarks and Taj Mahal and Red Fort are both part of India's heritage. He further said that we should work to protect the monument because it was built by India's labourers. Responding to Opposition's remarks, he said that no one should focus on them.
He added that his government is committed to serving the tourists visiting Agra. "Government has planned tourism projects worth Rs 370 crore under which schemes are meant for Taj mahal and the surrounding areas," he told India Today.
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