Taj Mahal a Hindu temple, claims BJP MP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vinay Katiyar on Wednesday claimed that Mughal mausoleum, Taj Mahal, is a Hindu temple and that its named should be changed.

Kaityar said that Taj Mahal was known as Tejo Mahal and had a shivling, which was later removed from the monument.

"Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple. There are many symbols of Hindu gods and goddesses in Taj Mahal. It was known as 'Tejo Mahal' and water used to drip from its ceiling on the Shivling but that was removed from there," Katiyar told ANI.

He added that all these monuments are made by Indian workers so there is no question of demolishing them.

"The Mughals have also demolished many temples. Wherever they see any opportunity they demolish our temples. Our 'Tejo Mahal' temple should be maintained. If we study Taj Mahal's history there is evidence of its being a temple. If this was only a grave then why so many rooms are built here? Its name should be changed to 'Tejo Mahal'," he asserted.

Katiyar further said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should go inside Taj Mahal and should see the Hindu signs inside it.

"There is no politics here. When a debate takes place then we should tell the truth to people. This will not gain anything but at least our people should know the reality of Mughals. The British did not demolish our structures but the Mughals did," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave a clear snub to his BJP MLA Sangeet Som for stirring the Taj Mahal controversy, stating that "it does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers".

Som had courted controversy on Sunday, stating that the iconic Taj Mahal was built by traitors and hence, cannot be included in the Indian history.