Did Not Speak Against Taj Mahal, But Its Makers: BJP MLA Sangeet Som

Sangeet Som said Owaisi exhibits the same level of intolerance as Muslim rulers once did.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Uddipta Das

Updated: October 16, 2017, 8:33 PM IST

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Meerut, October 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of legislative assembly (MLA) Sangeet Som on Monday made a U-turn in his ‘Taj Mahal’ comment and said he is not against the monument, but its makers and their portrayal in history. Som’s clarification comes a day after his comment sparked sharp criticism from various sections with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi questioning if tourists will be restricted from visiting the monument.

Speaking to news agency ANI, the BJP MLA called Taj Mahal a ‘beautiful heritage’ and clarified his earlier statement. “I don’t oppose Taj Mahal. It’s a beautiful heritage. I oppose Mughals who built it and how they’ve been portrayed in history,” he said.

PTI stated that Som said history would be rewritten to erase Mughal emperors from it. He also distorted historical facts and said the emperor who made the Taj Mahal had imprisoned his own father and targeted Hindus. However, the fact remains that the Taj was built by Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned by Aurangzeb, his son and not what Som said.

The Uttar Pradesh Government reportedly dropped the name of the Taj Mahal from the list of tourist destination and following this report, Som made the comments.

“Many people were pained to see that the Taj Mahal was removed from the list of places (tourist destinations). What type of history? “Is this history that the person who built the Taj Mahal imprisoned his father? Do you call it history when the one who built the Taj targeted many Hindus in Uttar Pradesh and Hindustan?” he said. He added that if such people are renowned in history, he “guarantees” that history will be rewritten.

As per reports, Som further said that the government is making efforts to erase the history of the Mughals and instead the lives and achievements of the “real great men” of the country like Maharana Pratap and Shivaji would be taught in all educational institutions.

“But as far as the Muslim, Mughal rule in this country is concerned, that period can only be described as exploitative, barbaric and a period of incomparable intolerance which harmed Indian civilisation and traditions immensely,” Som told PTI.

In response to the jibe taken by Asaduddin Owaisi, Som said it is leaders like him (Owaisi) who exhibit the same level of intolerance as Muslim rulers once displayed.