ANGRY OUTBURST AGAINST AZAM KHAN'S STATEMENT ON TAJ MAHAL

Agra November 21 (IANS)

UP’s minister for urban development and Waqf, Mohammed Azam Khan has again stirred a hornet’s nest inviting flak from conservationists and retaliation from Hindutva groups.

The minister had demanded Taj Mahal be declared a waqf property and he be given the charge to manage it. Another muslim leader has asked the Samajwadi Party to allow muslims to offer prayers five times a day at the Taj Mahal.

Agra is fuming over Azam Khan's statement. Earlier in January 2013 he had said  that he would have led the mob that razed the Babri Masjid if it had chosen to bring down the Taj Mahal instead.

"Azam needs to get himself checked for mental balance. He should not try to incense emotionalism," fumed Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.  If the minister thinks Agra residents would allow anyone to touch or damage the pride of India, all I can say is that it is foolish and short-sighted of him," said Sharma.

The 17th century Taj Mahal is annually visited by more than eight million people and is a star revenue generator for the hospitality industry and the Agra Development Authority.

Mughal historian R Nath said from Ajmer: "The Taj is a climax of 5,000 years of Indian excellence, a justifiable

pride and a valuable legacy. "I am terribly saddened by the minister's statement, and would only consider it a

reflection of his madness and stupidity," he said.

Local tourism organisations have strongly protested at the minister's statement. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal are planning protests. The Shiv Sena activists have been claiming that the Taj Mahal is a Hindu monument.

BJP MLA Yogendra Upadhaya reacted sharply saying Azam Khan should desist from making such absurd statements. "We will vehemently oppose any such move."