Taj 'dethroned' from UP's cultural heritage
Sanjay Pandey, DH News Service, Lucknow, Jul 13 2017, 19:04 IST
Earlier this year, Yogi Adityanath had drawn ire by saying the Taj did not reflect 'Indian' culture, and has now completely ignored it in the annual state budget, threatening the already vulnerable structure. PTI file photo.
Taj Mahal, the monument of love, may be a big attraction for the tourists from the country as well as abroad and a world heritage, it is no longer part of the cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh, where it is situated.
The state government has not included the Taj Mahal in its plan for development of the cultural heritage of UP in the budget for the ongoing financial year.
The cultural heritage of the state included Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot and Vindhyachal and the budget has made a provision of rs. 2800 crore for developing infrastructural facilities at all these places.
The state government has launched a Swadesh Darshan Yojna' under which it would develop Ramayana, Buddhist and Krishna circuits in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura respectively. The budget also contained provisions for operating chopper service to promote tourism in the state.
The BJP-led government, however, has not made any budgetary provision for the Taj Mahal triggering sharp reactions from the opposition parties.
''This government has no respect for our rich heritage....it is more concerned with promoting hindutva rather than promoting cultural heritage of the state,'' said Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Govind Chaudhary.
Another opposition leader said that the UP government, it seems, seeks to exact revenge on monuments that belonged to a particular religion.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had on several occasions in the past said that Taj Mahal did not represent the country's cultural heritage. ''Taj Mahal may be a beautiful building...but it cannot be a symbol of our cultural heritage,'' Adityanath had said earlier.
Avadh historians and social activist, however, said that Taj Mahal certainly represented India's rich heritage and it deserved to be treated as such. ''Taj Mahal continues to be the most attractive destination among the tourists both from India and abroad,'' remarked a historian.
The state government has not included the Taj Mahal in its plan for development of the cultural heritage of UP in the budget for the ongoing financial year.
The cultural heritage of the state included Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot and Vindhyachal and the budget has made a provision of rs. 2800 crore for developing infrastructural facilities at all these places.
The state government has launched a Swadesh Darshan Yojna' under which it would develop Ramayana, Buddhist and Krishna circuits in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura respectively. The budget also contained provisions for operating chopper service to promote tourism in the state.
The BJP-led government, however, has not made any budgetary provision for the Taj Mahal triggering sharp reactions from the opposition parties.
''This government has no respect for our rich heritage....it is more concerned with promoting hindutva rather than promoting cultural heritage of the state,'' said Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Govind Chaudhary.
Another opposition leader said that the UP government, it seems, seeks to exact revenge on monuments that belonged to a particular religion.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had on several occasions in the past said that Taj Mahal did not represent the country's cultural heritage. ''Taj Mahal may be a beautiful building...but it cannot be a symbol of our cultural heritage,'' Adityanath had said earlier.
Avadh historians and social activist, however, said that Taj Mahal certainly represented India's rich heritage and it deserved to be treated as such. ''Taj Mahal continues to be the most attractive destination among the tourists both from India and abroad,'' remarked a historian.
