Chandigarh:
Amid the controversy over BJP
leader Sangeet Som's remarks on the Taj Mahal, Haryana
Minister Anil Vij today described the monument as a "beautiful
graveyard".
"Taj Mahal ek khoobsurat kabristan hai (Taj Mahal is a
beautiful graveyard," the Minister for health and sports in
the BJP government in Haryana tweeted.
Vij has courted controversy several times in the past
with his remarks.
His tweet on Taj Mahal came in the backdrop of Som, BJP
legislator from Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh, questioning the
monument's place in India's heritage.
Downplying the controversy over Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said the monument was made
by the blood and sweat of "Bharat Mata's sons" and its
protection was the responsibility of his government
However, another senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar had
claimed that the Taj Mahal was a Lord Shiva temple called
'Tejo Mahal' which was converted into a mausoleum by Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan.
The 17th century marble monument was built by Shah Jahan
for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Both were buried there.
