Senior Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan’s statement seeking handing over of Taj Mahal to the Waqf Board has created a stir with Archaeological Survey of India officials fearing that this could open the Pandora’s box with similar demands being made.
Mr. Khan, who is also the Waqf Minister in the State, has stated that since there are two mausoleums in the Taj Mahal complex – of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal – it should be handed over the Waqf Board. He has also demanded that all earnings from the historic monument be spent on the welfare of Muslims.
“Wherever there are tombs, they are under the (jurisdiction of the) Central Waqf Board. If it is in cheap and poor condition, it means it’s under the Waqf Board…But if it’s an expensive structure, then it belongs to the government of India,” Mr. Khan said.
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Stating that the Waqf Board has jurisdiction over Muslim tombs and graves, he said the income from Taj Mahal should be used for the education of Muslims. “The (Waqf) Board can run at least two universities from the income from this (Taj Mahal),” he added.
It is not for the first time that Mr. Khan has courted controversy over Taj Mahal. Last year, he had stated that the monument should be razed since “no ruler has a right to use public money to build grand monuments for their lover”.
However, ASI officials feel that only their staffers can maintain and preserve the world heritage site. Giving such statements to get cheap publicity and create confusion among public is not a good strategy. Taj Mahal needs special attention and only experts can handle it, they added.
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ASI officials are also worried over the demand of Muslim clerics to allow ‘namaz’ five times a day inside the complex. According to prominent cleric Khalid Rashid Firangimahali, Muslims have a right to pray five times inside the monument. Currently, ‘namaz’ is allowed here only on Friday.