Owaisi challenges PM Narendra Modi-led government to remove Taj Mahal from world heritage list

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on 16 October launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government, and said he would want to challenge the Centre to tell the UNESCO to remove the Taj Mahal from the world heritage list.

This statement came soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sangeet Som said that the iconic Taj Mahal was built by traitors and hence, cannot be included in the Indian history.

Owaisi said, "It is very sad that a minister, who has taken oath on the Indian Constitution, has commented in such a way. I challenge this government to tell the UNESCO to remove the Taj Mahal from the world heritage list. This statement clearly shows what the priorities of this government are and that they have no relevance or respect towards the Taj Mahal."

"If whatever MLA Sangeet Som has said is true then why does Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoist a flag on the Red Fort on a place which is built by traitors? My question to the party is - Will Prime Minister Modi stop hoisting the flag after this statement? Or will he stop hosting foreign dignitaries in the Hyderabad House? In fact, Prime Minister Modi wore Rs. 25 lakh suit and served tea to former United States president Barack Obama," he said.

Further lashing out at the BJP-led Government, Owaisi stated that the Centre had failed in all fields of development towards the country.

"This government has completely failed on providing employment to youth, on combating terrorism or China front and now they totally fail on their knowledge, which is sad," he added.

Som made the remark during an event at the Sisoli village in Meerut district yesterday.

While addressing a gathering, 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."

This controversial statement has come weeks after Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi rejected reports of the Taj Mahal's exclusion from the state government's new tourism booklet. It was earlier reported that the Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was not mentioned in a new booklet released by the Yogi Adityanath-led state government. 

-ANI