India
Another foot in the mouth comment about Taj Mahal by a BJP leader.
Updated : Oct 20, 2017, 07:15 PM IST
It seems like BJP leaders can't stop commenting about Taj Mahal, despite the best efforts from the party high command to put a lid to the controversy.
Haryana Minister and senior BJP leader Anil Vij is the latest to join the bandwagon of leaders making controversial comments about one of world's most famous monuments.
First he tweeted:
#ताजमहल एक खूबसूरत कब्रिस्तान है ।
— ANIL VIJ (@anilvijminister) October 20, 2017
Later, he elaborated on his comment while speaking to ANI,
#TajMahal ek khoobsurat kabristan hai. Yahi kaaran hai ki isko ashubh maante huye iska model log apne gharon men nahi rakhte hain: Anil Vij pic.twitter.com/vs2zJWZyXJ
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017
It loosely translates to, "Taj Mahal is a beautiful cemetery. This is the reason it is deemed as bad omen, and people don't keep replica of Taj in their houses."
Well shopkeepers across the world, selling replica of Taj Mahal in various sizes may disagree with Anil Vij's rather sweeping statement.
However, this is not the first time Anil Vij has made an off-the-cuff statement. In the past, he has said that PM Modi is a bigger brand than Mahatma Gandhi, true Hindus could never be a terrorist and people who want beef should leave Haryana. He even called the media 'stinking dogs' once, when they raised questions about his entourage's trip to Rio during the Olympics.
His tweet on Taj Mahal came in the backdrop of Sangeet Som, BJP legislator from Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh, questioning the monument's place in India's heritage. Downplaying the controversy over Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said the monument was created 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.
With agency inputs