BJP Wants Know if Hindu Idols are in Taj Mahal, Goes to Court to Open 20 Rooms

LUCKNOW, (IANS)- A petition has been filed in Lucknow seeking directives to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal in Agra to ascertain whether the Hindu idols and inscriptions are hidden there.

BJP media in-charge of Ayodhya district, Dr Rajneesh Singh has filed the petition.

“There is an old controversy related to the Taj Mahal. Around 20 rooms in Taj Mahal are locked and no one is allowed to enter. It is believed that in these rooms there are idols of Hindu gods and scriptures,” he said.

“I have filed a petition in the high court seeking directives to ASI to open these rooms to ascertain facts. There is no harm in opening these rooms and setting to rest all controversies,” said Singh.

In the plea, the petitioner has sought directives from the court to the state government to constitute a committee that would examine these rooms and look for any evidence related with the Hindu idols or scriptures there.

Singh had filed an RTI in 2020 with the Union ministry of Culture seeking information about the rooms.

“When all my efforts failed then I have approached the Lucknow high court seeking directives to the government to open these rooms and constitute a fact-finding committee to find out whether Hindu gods and scriptures are inside them,” he added.

It may be pointed out that several right-wing organizations claim Taj Mahal to be Tejo Mahalaya, a Hindu temple.