Taj Mahal built by traitors, is blot on Indian culture: BJP lawmaker

After Taj Mahal was excluded from a tourism book of Uttar Pradesh, row has started between politicians over the historical significance of the mausoleum, with some cherishing its glory while others irked by its fame. , according to Indian media. 

A lawmaker of Bharatiya Janata Party, Sangeet Som, has said the monument was “built by traitors and is a blot on Indian culture”.

Som believes India's history should be rewritten to erase Mughal emperors. "What history are we talking about? The man who built Taj Mahal imprisoned his father. He wanted to massacre Hindus. If this is history, then it is very unfortunate and we will change this history, I guarantee you," Som said while addressing a public meeting in Meerut on Sunday.

Earlier, an Indian politician who is notorious for his inflammatory speeches, Yogi Adityanath, had said Taj Mahal does not represent Indian culture.

Adityanath is the incumbent chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and it is under his rule that the new tourism booklet — sans Taj Mahal’s mention — has been released.

However, in an attempt to tackle the controversy, Adityanath said on Tuesday that Taj Mahal was built “by the blood and sweat of Indians”.

"It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was made by the sons of Bharat Mata,” he said while talking to reporters in Gorakhpur. “It was built by the blood and sweat of Indian labourers. I don't want to go into the depth of who built the Taj and why they made it."