VHP men vandalise western gate of Taj Mahal in Yogi’s ‘peaceful’ UP: reports

At least three shocking media reports say that on Sunday June 10, workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad created a ruckus and vandalised the western entrance to the historic, Mughal-era World Heritage Site Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

According to the reports, 20 to 25 people attacked the gate located on the western edge of the Taj Mahal and uprooted it. The media reported that the VHP workers were furious because the Archaeological Survey of India was blocking the pathway to the Siddheshwar Mahadev temple in the name of security of the Taj Mahal. The VHP activists said that they were protesting as how can pathway to a 400-year-old temple block be blocked?

Tourists present were inconvenienced for a long time, said the reports.

News Tak posted this video of the incident on its Facebook page:

Reportedly, by the time the security forces engaged in the security of the Taj complex could comprehend what was happening, the protestors had already damaged the entrance.

Given the seriousness of the incident, the Archeology Department complained to the local police, after which the local administration has registered a case against 4-5 unknown persons in the case and the administration has spoken of taking strong action in this matter.

Apparently the ASI is installing a secure access for tourists from the western entrance to see the Taj, due to which the gate has been temporarily shut and an alternative path has been opened to the temple from behind the Taj Mahal. However, despite these explanations, the activists of the rightwing organisation tried to uproot the gate.

Case filed but no arrests yet

Prabhat Kumar, CO Taj Security, on June 12 claimed that misinformation is being spread. He, however, conceded to National Herald that “some miscreants threw the western gate which is currently being constructed for the tourists by ASI.”

“A temple is situated nearby Taj Mahal and the path to the temple has been closed for construction. People visiting the temple were insisting that due to the construction of the gate, they were facing trouble reaching the temple and some 20 to 25 people took the gate and threw it for about 50 metres.”

“A case has been registered under section 147, 353 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code and 7CLAF against five named people and 20 to 25 unnamed people at Tajganj Police Station,” Kumar informed. However, there has been no arrest in the matter at the time of reporting.

*This article was updated at 7.13 pm on June 12, 2018