Proud of Taj Mahal, it's our cultural heritage: UP government disowns Sangeet Som's remarks, calls them 'personal'

Even as criticism mounts over BJP leader Sangeet Som's shocking statement on Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh government has disowned his remarks as 'personal'.

State Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that “we are proud of Taj Mahal. It's our cultural heritage. There should not be any confusion on it.”

She distanced herself from Sangeet Som's speech and said that “it's a personal statement. Anybody can have any point of view. But as afar as government is concerned, me and my Chief Minister has put it on record that we are extremely proud of the fact that Taj Mahal is housed in Uttar Pradesh.”

The Sardhana MLA, who has been booked for hate speech during Muzaffarnagar riots, made shocking statements during an event in Meerut.

The video that went viral showed him saying that Taj Mahal had no place India's history.

Som said, "Many people were disappointed that the Taj Mahal was removed from the Uttar Pradesh tourism booklet. What history are we talking about? The creator of Taj Mahal (Shahjehan) imprisoned his father. He wanted to wipe out Hindus. If these people are part of our history, then it is very sad and we will change this history."

The remarks came weeks after Taj Mahal was allegedly removed from the tourism booklets of UP government.

However, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi had rejected the reports of the Taj Mahal's exclusion from the state government's new tourism booklet.

"The Taj Mahal has been the legacy of Uttar Pradesh and hence, claiming that the government is ignoring it is wrong," Joshi had said.