UP minister says Taj a waste of funds

Azam Khan at it again

For millions across the world, Taj Mahal may be a monument of love. But for a senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Uttar Pradesh (UP) minister it symbolises nothing but “gross misuse of public funds” by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan.

“Shahjahan may have attained fame all over the world for the Taj built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, but legally, he has committed the biggest crime,” UP minister for Urban Development and SP general secretary Azam Khan said while addressing girls at a function in Meerut on Thursday.

“Shahjahan misused public funds by building such a monument,” Khan said and justified his confinement by Aurangzeb in Agra Fort.

“Aurangzeb had confined Shahjahan as it was the call of the people. He did not do anything wrong,” the minister said as he likened Shahjahan to the former UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati.

“Mayawati, like Shahjahan, got several memorials built. She even got her own statues constructed with public funds. Someday, some Aurangzeb will also confine her,” he said and requested the girls not to “emulate” Mayawati.

Khan, who is infamous for being hotheaded, had earlier been in the news for his outbursts.

He had favoured third party intervention for investigating the recent killing of two Army jawans by Pakistani soldiers on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Khan had also called for “stoning to death” the accused in the Delhi gang-rape case.
A few days ago, he had allegedly thrashed a coach attendant in a train and had him do sit-ups for supplying “dirty bed rolls”.

Barely a few months back, Khan, at a public function, termed cops as “dalals” (middlemen) to their utter shock and dismay.