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NEW DELHI: In a stinging response to recent remarks questioning the Taj Mahal’s place in history by India’s ruling party legislator, a leading politician on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would stop hosting foreign dignitaries at the state capital’s iconic Hyderabad House, because that, too, was built by “traitors”.
Earlier, the rightwing Hindu government in Uttar Pradesh removed the Taj Mahal from its official list of tourist destinations for which the state is famous, according to a Times of India report.
The move followed comments from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who said the 17th century marvel in Agra did not represent Indian ethos and was built by “traitors”.
Responding to the controversial remarks, Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi, tweeted: “Traitors also built Red Fort will Modi stop hoisting Tiranga? Can Modi and Yogi tell domestic and foreign tourist not to visit Taj Mahal?”
The All India Majlis-i-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief, in a series of tweets, also said that the Hyderabad House in Delhi — the state capital’s venue for hosting foreign dignitaries — was built by a “traitor”. “Even Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by traitor will Modi stop hosting Foreign Dignitaries?” he asked on Twitter.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leader’s remarks about the Taj being a “blot on Indian culture” have sparked shock and rage online.
Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2017
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On DawnNews
Comments (64) Closed
Oct 17, 2017 08:23am
It would take some time to erase the painful memories of history.
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Oct 17, 2017 09:50am
Isn't TajMahal essentially a private property built with tax-payer money? Wouldn't building Universities or 'Economic Corridors' made sense?
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Oct 17, 2017 09:52am
Modi did not utter a single word against Taj Mahal. There are some small time politicians trying to get 15 minutes of instant fame. Dawn,please do not publish sensationalizing stories with misleading headlines. BTW, I am your big time admirer. Thanks!!
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Oct 17, 2017 09:54am
Thanks to DAWN !!
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Oct 17, 2017 09:57am
India is facing the worst kind of extremist government that we in Pakistan had from 1977 to 1988. God save us from any myopic leadership like this. It's good that we don't elect our religious political parties to rule.
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Oct 17, 2017 09:58am
Modi and co, speaking like a true democracy
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Oct 17, 2017 09:59am
Donot follow politician comment, its only 4 vote banking poltics
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Oct 17, 2017 10:40am
Red fort is an art. So is Taj Mahal but it is built on a temple that is where the contention is. I believe invaders were really brutal on majority then and it has repercussion till now.
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Oct 17, 2017 01:35pm
yogi said : " the Taj Mahal is very important for us, It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers."
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Oct 17, 2017 01:39pm
Why AMARKOT's name has been changed to UMERKOT ?
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Oct 17, 2017 01:42pm
there are many monuments in India. many of Rajasthan forts and palaces are as good as Taj. Gwalior Palace, Mysuru Palace, Konarak temple, Khajuraho, Chola temples, Hampi etc
Taj is good because of special white marble, otherwise not that great.
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Oct 17, 2017 01:42pm
Recent comment on Taj Mahal is not by Adityanath but other BJP MP.
And being a democracy everybody has right to say what they think.
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Oct 17, 2017 01:43pm
Hindus with no tolerance for others in India is surfacing strong under Modi!
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Oct 17, 2017 01:52pm
Today UP CM Yogi has said he backs Taj built by blood and sweat of Indians. Now where will the hardliner Owaisi will keep his face? Jumping on every given opportunity to defame India. Not long when he will be shunned by his own men.
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Oct 17, 2017 02:38pm
Taj Mahal was built by Indian worksmen, with Indian money on Indian land. Only the ruler of the time was foreigner.
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Oct 17, 2017 02:46pm
A fanatic mindset!
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Oct 17, 2017 03:30pm
What else can the Indian politicians say and who is listening?
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Oct 17, 2017 03:43pm
It took 20 years and approximately 20,000 workers to built Taj Mahal. It is correct to say that Taj was built by the blood, sweat and tears of thousands of Indian labourers. India is proud of the persistence and ingenuity of so many of its people. One legislature's ill construed remarks cannot deny our history.
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Oct 17, 2017 03:50pm
As an Indian i do not have problem if govt demolished all structures built by invaders... Even though those are built using poor indians tax payers money.
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Oct 17, 2017 04:14pm
From Mohammad Ghori to Bahadur Shah Zafar (1192 to 1857 ) Muslims ruled India for 665 years that left deep socio-political influence on Indian society till today. Those who criticizes Tajmahal and other world famous monuments are ruling India for only last 70 years. So, it will take time to be civilized and to build the intellectual capacity to evaluate Muslim architecture, music, food, etiquette, family values, judiciary and their political dignity .
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Oct 17, 2017 04:22pm
So much of money is earned when tourists visit Taj Mahal as it is one of the seven wonders of the world. By denying your past, you deny your very being.
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Oct 17, 2017 05:17pm
Good retort from Owaisi. It might force the sanghis to think before they spew next time, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
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Oct 17, 2017 05:57pm
@REALITY BITES Indian past is not just 300 years old. It is more that 3000 years old. You won't understand that as you are still 70 years young and regularly deny your actual ancestral past. Now that Reality should bite you.
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Oct 17, 2017 06:08pm
@Sami ullah swati check yourself dear
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Oct 17, 2017 06:13pm
Pakistan will be very happy to take Taj Mahal and Red Fort if BJP does not consider these iconic buildings as part of so called Indian history . Congratulations on rewriting your own history !
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Oct 17, 2017 06:14pm
Taj Mahal Glorious example of Islamic architecture.
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Oct 17, 2017 06:19pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Apparently you are...
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Oct 17, 2017 08:12pm
Taj mahal should be given back to Pakistan as it was build by muslims the great mughal
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Oct 17, 2017 08:43pm
Interesting comments.. Taj mahal a symbol of love is turning in to a symbol of hate only a a few votes or for political popularity...folks..The world believes it was built by love but reading Shah Jahan’s own words on the Taj, one could say it was grief that built the Taj Mahal and it was sorrow that saw it through sixteen years till completion....and now we will witness the sorrow in this day and age wither away for merely a political reason..Marble, I perceive, covers a multitude of sins but the indian flag wont be large enough to cover the politics of hate...
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Oct 17, 2017 08:47pm
@Alam Masud "From Mohammad Ghori to Bahadur Shah Zafar (1192 to 1857 ) Muslims ruled India for 665 years that left deep socio-political influence on Indian society till today. " neither ghori nor safari had most of India under them forget whole of it. Shajahan expanded it the most but Aurangzeb lost it soon to Marathas. There were many independent kingdoms throughout these times and the Vijayanagara empire for many centuries.
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Oct 17, 2017 10:23pm
@Sushant Where did Reality Bites mention not to acknowledge history beyond 300 years ? Let the tourists decide what they find worth visiting.
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Oct 17, 2017 11:14pm
@Alam Masud, I appreciate your sense of humour!
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Oct 18, 2017 12:00am
@Alam Masud yeah that was Muslims are known for architecture, music and culture! Wake up and smell the reality please!
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Oct 18, 2017 02:05am
@Raja How many world class architectures does Pakistan have Sir. Early Islamic invasions destroyed monuments after monuments.
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Oct 18, 2017 02:06am
@Dev So what is great in your limited vocabulary? But please take off your blinders and read how much foriegn exchange this "not so great Taj Mahal" earns for India.
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Oct 18, 2017 02:15am
@Padmakar Truth (and History) would be there even the revionists in India change and will be staring at you but as far as the memories you can turn them into someting you can tolerate if you open your mind to the realities of the time.
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Oct 18, 2017 08:41am
Would politicians treat monuments built by the British in the same way? Historical monuments are preserved and valued for the historical heritage regardless of who built them in the first place and why.
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Oct 18, 2017 09:00am
Anything which is build will decay after some decade. Just wait for the time.Nature will work on its way.
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Oct 18, 2017 12:21pm
@LILLY "Today UP CM Yogi has said he backs Taj built by blood and sweat of Indians" He's right. One of the best thing India created with it's blood and sweat is Taj Mahal, by integrating all it's diversity. Don't let it be wasted, make something better if you don't like the previous one, instead of moaning because it was done by people you don't like. Just prove that you are better than them, It would not be too hard if you really have something in you.
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Oct 18, 2017 12:32pm
@Yahya Ali
Please come & take it in your bag............
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Oct 18, 2017 03:39pm
@Zak Taj Mahal was one of the great wonders of Mughal rule over the south asian subcontinent. Take those iconic historical sites and there is no India left, but Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujrat, awadh, bengal, khalistan , assam, tripura etc etc. Mughal gave india a name to live off.
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Oct 18, 2017 04:14pm
@Yahya Ali
Taj mahal should be given back to Pakistan as it was build by muslims the great mughal
Well said, yes Taj Mahal should be given back to Pakistan
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Oct 18, 2017 05:03pm
One might come forward and say it openly and candidly. Many Hindus resent the Mughal past and wish it had never happened.
Does not a section of Pakistanis resent their Hindu past and try to erase it as much as they can?
Taj Mahal will stay on in India, a reminder of its chequered history and resentments real and imaginary will continue to pour out as usual.
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Oct 18, 2017 05:45pm
@Alam Masud : The values of pure jehad is the only value that is known to the world from Mughal era.
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Oct 18, 2017 05:45pm
@Alam Masud - Only parts of northern India. And much before Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Marathas were already in power. The Mughal court from Shah Alam onwards paid tribute to the Marathas to let them remain as notional rulers. On the Pakistani side, the Sikh empire ruled for 150 years before Bahadur Shah Zafar. Speak the truth fully my friend.
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Oct 18, 2017 08:53pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad : Dr Salaria, Aamir Aahmad surely is.
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Oct 18, 2017 10:52pm
Do you guys know the divide and conquer policy of the East India company? It's a pretty well oiled concept and pretty well implemented over several centuries successfully. Turns out it's still being implemented successfully and sunaks like Owaisi are ready to create fissures further. He is pretty much aware that neither Yogi nor Modi uttered a single word against the Taj, but according to him the whole muslim world is enraged by the 2. The british masters must be very proud of themselves for having ingrained this concept into the DNA of the people of the subcontinent.
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Oct 18, 2017 11:50pm
Anyone born in a country, and living their is a national of that country, if someone calls them invaders/outsiders or immigrants are showing racism. It is strange how in a western country everyone wants to be called English or American etc, regardless of their descent, but when it comes to their own country, a 1000 years of roots and parentage is not enough. Pure ignorance, becuase of racism and religious hatred.
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Oct 19, 2017 01:09am
@Padmakar I guess you mean the painful memories like the custom of Satti, incredible cruelty to Budhist, Jains and the Suders? Or the stupid memory of Prithvi releasing Gori because Prithvi's greed was eyeing the riches of other Indian kingdoms so he collected his ransom and let go of one who would be his eventual slayer. Or perhaps you are bothered by the memory of Dahir being betrayed to the Arabs by his own kinsmen so that they too could enjoy the "pleasures of the kingdom."
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Oct 19, 2017 02:29am
@Zak If that logic were to be used then none of the great structures would have been created.
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Oct 19, 2017 02:31am
@Padmakar What painful memories?. Isn't Mughal period the greatest period in Indian history?
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Oct 19, 2017 02:34am
@San The so called small time politician is the Chief Minister of UP the most populous Indian state and was hand picked my Modi for the post.
Also Modi has not condemned his action. You are right he has remained silent!
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Oct 19, 2017 03:49am
@Satya Including Aryans.
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Oct 19, 2017 05:44am
You should know why PM hoist Indian flag from Red fort. The reason is that Indian National Army trials (Subhash Chandra Bose forces) were held at Red Fort by British where INA officers and soldiers captured by sentenced. It is because of this reason Red Fort is used for flag hoisting.
Just FYI, the Purana Qila is built on Prithviraj Chauhan's original fort called Lal Kot.
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Oct 19, 2017 07:02am
@skumar Truth and Muslims are mutually exclusive.
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Oct 19, 2017 07:07am
@L.Ahmad Which is why Taxila is being destroyed brick by brick?
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Oct 19, 2017 07:30am
@Zak where do you get your knowledge from??
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Oct 19, 2017 10:37am
Just wondering if Taj Mahal, Red fort (aka lal quila) were built by Mughal invaders what did they conquered from the former kings in the region? Those former kings were living on the streets?
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Oct 19, 2017 11:27am
Secularism in India is very deeply rooted. If somebody comes to change our history, he will be dealt with an iron fist.
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Oct 19, 2017 11:50am
@Yahya Ali and you think Pakistani's are Mugals. Lol.
You guys were Hindus 6-7 generation back dear.
#KnowledgeMatters
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Oct 19, 2017 02:18pm
@Sushant
actually, we are older than that... we came with the indus valley civilisation....
Don't know why are you so over excited about that...
True indians should destroy taj mahal, delhi gate, and rest of the monuments erected by the invaders so that only the pure brahmin race thrives and does the same to others...
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Oct 19, 2017 03:07pm
Today The Two Nation Theory again proved itself. There are no second thoughts.
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Oct 19, 2017 03:20pm
@Satya Good luck with demolition work of all Structures and Infrastructures built by invaders ...... on my request please add Grand Trunk Road of your side in the list.
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Oct 20, 2017 12:10am
Modi and cronies are unravelling Indian Union. South Asia should just sit back and watch. Reminds us of the Soviet Union.
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