Friday Namaz at Taj Mahal or Allow Shiva Prayers Too: RSS
New Delhi, Oct 27: The controversy surrounding the Taj Mahal is refusing to die. The latest in the chapter is a demand by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to ban Friday namaz at the iconic 17th century monument.
The history wing of the RSS – Akhil Bhartiya Itihaas Sankalan Samiti – has demanded that Friday prayers at Taj Mahal should be banned as it is not a religious site. Notably, Taj Mahal remains close for tourists on Friday.
“Taj is a national heritage- why allow Muslims to use it as a religious site? Permission to perform namaz at Agra’s Taj Mahal should be withdrawn,” Dr Balmukund Pandey, national organisation secretary of the RSS body, said. Also Read: Taj Mahal Should be Renamed as Taj Mandir: Vinay Katiyar)
Pandey added that if namaz is being allowed inside Taj premises then authorities should grant permission to hold Shiv prayers at the site.
“There is ample evidence that Taj Mahal was a Shiva Temple constructed by a Hindu King, Taj is not a symbol of love, Emperor Shahjahan married within four months of his queen Mumtaz Mahal’a demise,” Pandey claimed, adding “We are collecting evidence and will soon detail every aspect of it.”
Earlier this week, police evicted members of Hindu Yuva Vahini who had gathered inside Taj Mahal premises to recite Shiv Chalisa.
The Controversy
A major controversy erupted when Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department left out Taj Mahal in its brochure for tourists last month. Adding fuel to the fire, BJP MLA from Sardhana Sangeet Som last week raised questions over the world heritage structure’s status in history.
Sangeet Som described Taj Mahal as a “blot on Indian culture and history” as it was contructed by Mughals who “plundered” the country. Also Read: Taj Mahal or Tejo Mahal? How a Book Triggered Controversy)
The BJP leader, however, snubbed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Yogi Adityanath soon after his contentious remarks. “It does not matter who built it and for what reason. It was built by the blood and sweat of Indian labourers … It is very important for us, especially from the tourism perspective. It is our priority to provide facilities and safety to tourists,” Adityanath said.
In an apparent damage control move, the UP CM visited Taj Mahal on Thursday (October 27) and participated in a cleanliness drive.
Donning a mask, wearing yellow gloves and wielding a broom, Adityanath was accompanied by about 500 BJP members, including MLAs from western Uttar Pradesh, as he swept a parking area, in an apparent bid to promote the Swachh Bharat mission.
Speaking at a public gathering later in the evening, Yogi reiterated that his stand over the raging issue.
“We should not delve deeper into the details of why, when and how the Taj Mahal was built. What is important is that it was built by the hard work of Indian workers,” he said in a bid to quell the row.