Modi hopes to break 2014 and 2019 records under Yogi’s leadership
The prime minister hoped of an unexpected victory for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections attributing it to CM Yogi's commitment to good governance and development.
In a bid to pacify frayed tempers, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday landed in Agra to visit the Taj Mahal following a series of controversial statements by several BJP leaders on the 17th century marble wonder.
As part of the damage control exercise, Yogi will launch a cleanliness at the western gate of the Taj Mahal with a broom in hand and will also visit the graves inside the mausoleum.
He will also visit the Nagla Pema area where a rubber check dam is likely to be constructed and address a press conference later in the day.
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Locals are hoping that the Chief Minister will unfold a package for infrastructural development of Agra.
The Chief Minister is also scheduled to launch Pro-Poor Tourism projects and address a public gathering at the GIC ground later in the day.
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has been accused of ignoring Taj Mahal in the tourism booklet of the state and the controversial statements by some of its leaders have only added to the woes of the state government.
BJP MLA Sangeet Som had stirred controversy last week when he called the Taj Mahal a blot on Indian culture, while some other right-wing politicians have said the Unesco World Heritage Site visited by millions was not representative of the Indian socio-cultural ethos.
Jumping on the bandwagon, senior Haryana Minister Anil Vij termed the marble monument as a “beautiful cemetery” while BJP MP Vinay Katiyar extended support to a group of right-wing activists for reciting the ‘Shiv Chalisa’ at the Taj Mahal.
Yogi had earlier said that the monument was constructed “by the blood and sweat of Indian labourers”.
The 17th century marble monument was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Both were buried at the Taj Mahal.
Adityanath last visited Agra on May 7, walking the dirty and controversial Taj Corridor in the afternoon sun, to discuss plans for Yamuna rejuvenation. However, nothing much followed.
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