Agra: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has once again rejected the claims of the world-famous Taj Mahal of Agra as an ancient temple and hidden idols in closed rooms located in its cellars. In fact, Saket Gokhale, the national spokesperson of the ruling Trinamool Congress of West Bengal, had given an RTI application regarding this, to which ASI Agra has responded. The ASI made it clear that there is no closed room in the Taj Mahal and no idol of Hindu deities is kept in any room.
Saket Gokhale himself has given information about this by tweeting. He tweeted, ‘The Archaeological Survey of India told me that a.) No temple existed at the place where the Taj Mahal is. b.) There are no ‘closed rooms with idols’ in the Taj Mahal.
In fact, many claims have come to the fore regarding the Taj Mahal, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. Some claimed it to be an ancient Shiva temple, some called it the ancient palace of the Jaipur royal family. Meanwhile, a petition was also filed in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court for the opening of its 22 closed rooms, which was rejected by the court with a strong reprimand.
Significantly, Rajneesh Singh, a resident of Ayodhya, had filed a petition urging to set up a committee to find out the history of the Taj Mahal and order the opening of 22 rooms built in this historic building. In this petition, there was also a demand to declare the laws made in 1951 and 1958 against the provisions of the Constitution. Under these laws, buildings like the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri Fort, and the Red Fort of Agra were declared historical buildings. Many right-wing organizations have claimed in the past that this tomb of the Mughal period was a temple of Lord Shiva. This monument is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
A bench of Justices DK Upadhyay and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi in the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, while giving a strong reaction to the petition, said that the court cannot pass orders under Article 226 of the Constitution of India on a petition filed in a negligent manner.
