UP Shia Waqf Chief elaborates on letter to PM on Humayun's Tomb's demolition

Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board Chief Wasim Rizvi on Thursday said that if the Humayun's Tomb was converted into a graveyard, then Muslims wouldn't require another for next 100 years.

"If Humayun's Tomb is made into graveyard, the Muslims here won't require another for next 100 years, as the land where the tomb sits is huge," Wasim Rizvi told ANI.

The statement comes after the Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposing that the Humayun's Tomb in Delhi be removed from the 'national heritage list', demolished and turned into a graveyard for the Muslims.

Calling it an advice, Rizvi asserted that Uttar Pradesh has a large population of Muslims and that the people of the state demanded space for tombs and graveyards, which was when the proposition was given.

"A new graveyard cannot be established within the city premises where there is a law related to it as well. And if the Muslims want, they can accept the proposal, and we have just given our advice," he added.

He added, "After you die, it doesn't matter whether you are a prince or a pauper. And so if the 35-acre land where Humayun is buried becomes a graveyard, then probably the sins committed by him will lessen."

Rizvi asserted that he had given an advice, which was for the benefit of the Muslims.

Speaking about the controversy created around Taj Mahal, Rizvi said that the historical monument was one of the 'Seven Wonders of the World' and also "gives out a lot of revenue."

"When people go to visit the Taj Mahal they don't go the grave of the king, Shah Jahan. People just go to see the beautiful and artistic piece of work which is the Taj Mahal," he added.

Rizvi further said that Shah Jahan had six wives, third one being Mumtaz, and that he was an alcoholic and "this is the reason his son imprisoned him."

"The board proposes to remove the Humayun's tomb from the national heritage list and its building be razed and it be declared a graveyard for the Muslims of New Delhi. It did not fetch any income for the government and lakhs of rupees have been spent on its maintenance. The money should be spent on development and not for preserving the tomb of cruel kings, who looted the country," Wasim Rizvi said, in the letter written on October 18.

The statements by Rizvi comes in light with the controversy around the Taj Mahal after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sangeet Som said that the 17th-century monument in India's culture was built by a traitor and was "a blot on Indian culture."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who visited the Taj Mahal today, however, later had shrugged off Som's remark and said, "It does not matter who built it and for what reason. It was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers."

This is his maiden visit to the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, after being sworn into office earlier this year.