Taj Mahotsav : BJP lawmaker Vinay Katiyar says Taj Mahal will soon be Tej Mandir

Months after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tried to fade away Taj Mahal row after a BJP leader Sangeet Som’s claimed that the monument to be a Hindu Temple, on Monday a BJP parliamentarian Vinay Katiyar stoked a fresh controversy by saying that the World seventh wonder will soon become Tej Mandir.

The BJP lawmaker talking to media said, “Call it Taj Mahotsav or Tej Mahotsav both are the same thing. There is no much difference between Taj and Tej.”

“Mughals turned our Tej Mandir into a cremation ground of Aurangzeb. The Taj Mahal will soon be converted into Tej Mandir,” added the lawmaker.

The BJP parliamentarian exerted that the 'Taj Mahal is not the one that existed during the time of Aurangzeb.'

A 10-day long Taj Mahotsav will be held in Agra starting from February 18. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be the chief guests during the opening day ceremony of the event.

Last year BJP leader Sangeet Som had claimed that Taj Mahal was a Shiv Temple and Katiyar had backed his claims.

Then Katiyar backing Som had said, “Taj Mahal was once a Shiv Temple and Shivling was also built, which was removed by the Mughals. There are other signs to which proof the mausoleum is a Hindu temple.”

Also read: BJP parliamentarian Vinay Katiyar claims Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple

The event is already under controversy after reports emerged that the UP government is opening the Taj Mohotsav with Lord Ram-based dance drama. The opposition charging the Adityanath government of saffronising the festival.