UP CM Yogi visits Taj amid ‘Vande Mataram’ chants
Chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and‘Vande Matram’ reverberated in the air as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Taj Mahal on Thursday.
Adityanath’s Taj visit comes days after some members of his Bharatiya Janata Party questioned the iconic monument’s heritage and place in India’s history. Adityanath wielded the broom and took part in a cleanliness drive near the Western Gate of the Taj Mahal.
“Taj Mahal was built by the blood and sweat of Indian labourers. The onus of its security and preservation lies on our shoulders. Everyday 40,000-50,000 tourists come to Agra. If we can provide adequate security to them, the number will rise to 2 to 3 lakhs,” the CM said.
Yogi stayed at the Taj Mahal for about 45 minutes, spending time at the Mughal museum as well. He visited the main mausoleum shortly after noon and interacted with a Canadian couple as the crowds shouted patriotic slogans to welcome Yogi.
He waved at the visitors chanting ‘Yogi zindabad’ and also met tourists.
The CM, however, did not go to the central tank in the Taj which has the ‘Diana seat’, a spot popular for clicking of photographs. Later, Adityanath highlighted his government’s development initiatives for Agra and hit out at previous state governments, accusing them of practising divisive politics. He said his government’s efforts were not aimed at benefiting any caste or religion but the entire state.
“Only those people are raising questions over my Agra visit who have divided society on the basis of castes,” he said.
“More than 14,000 policemen were deployed across the city for Adityanath’s visit. Four helipads were set up in various parts of the city,” a senior police officer said.
“The monument (Taj Mahal) is open for tourists and entry was allowed as per the routine process. The security has been stepped up,” he said. The district administration regulated the movement of tourists on the Taj premises also shifted the western gate parking to Ramlila ground.
Earlier, the CM also went to Nangla Paima village to visit the rubber check dam site and also toured Kachhpura village.
Accompanied by deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Yogi also went to Mehtab Bagh across river Yamuna to attend an event organised for promotion of tourism.
He also laid the foundation stone of development schemes for Kachhpura and Mehtab Bagh in backdrop of Taj Mahal.