Dubai
The west gate of the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous mausoleum and a United Nations World Heritage site, was vandalised by Hindutva right-wing activists. Social media is up in arms.
Indian Police Service(IPS) officer @sanjivbhatt tweeted: “VHP workers vandalise western gate of Taj Mahal. Congratulations, India! Well deserved!”
VHP workers vandalise western gate of Taj Mahal.
— Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) June 12, 2018
Congratulations, India! Well deserved!
According to and The Indian Express, the activists who belonged to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) an Indian right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation based on the ideology of Hindutva, “arrived with hammers and iron rods...”.
Indian weekly, National Herald reported that the activists: “...tried to remove the turnstile gate installed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).”
@NH_India tweeted: “Shocking media reports say that Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers created a ruckus and vandalised the western entrance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, in protest against ASI allegedly blocking the pathway to the Siddheshwar Mahadev temple. #TajMahal”
Shocking media reports say that Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers created a ruckus and vandalised the western entrance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, in protest against ASI allegedly blocking the pathway to the Siddheshwar Mahadev temple #TajMahal https://t.co/KAfQ8pgLIr pic.twitter.com/K9XRICC6Tl
— Pritha Bandyopadhyay (@PrithaBandyop10) June 12, 2018
Many took to Twitter to slam the bhakts (Indian Hindutva right-wing ideologists) and the current Indian administration. Tweep @aslammev wrote: “Not surprised by this event at Taj Mahal. Question is what was Agra police doing? Or they were ordered to remain silent by ruling party? Without support of political top brass this could not have happened. So 2019 is fast approaching.”
Not surprised by this event at Taj Mahal .
— kuch bhi (@aslammev) June 12, 2018
Question is what was agra police doing ?
Or they were ordered to remain silent by ruling party?
Without support of political top brass this could not have happened . So 2019 is fast approaching.....
Others couldn’t understand the logic in trying to ruin a world heritage @rubenkar67: “Let’s be sensible and show some sensitivity to a world heritage. An inspiration for global travellers and pride of India...”
It's a shame that certain miscreants vandalised the #TajMahal - one of the #WondersoftheWorld & a historic site. Strong action must be taken against these anti-socials.
— Chandra Kumar Bose (@Chandrabosebjp) June 13, 2018
Each blow that landed on the gates of the Taj Mahal also hurt the spirit of India, its composite culture, its spirit of syncretism, its very idea of existence as a country that accommodates and celebrates its diversity. https://t.co/6QTzc0pCxk
— Raja (@nimiraja2011) June 13, 2018
Twitter users like @MartianTutu slammed the VHP’s contribution to India. He tweeted: “They made nothing but destroyed everything. It is their history sheet.”
They made nothing but destroyed everything. It is their history sheet.
— Manoranjan Mallick (@MartianTutu) June 12, 2018
Tweep @cr7akhtar highlighted the sad situation of India’s socio-political situation. He wrote: “Atul kochhar... your remark on Quantico was wrong... VHP terrorist vandalised the gate of Taj Mahal today, they lynch a man in broad daylight, they stab a child in train nd still ur saying saffron terrorist doesn’t exist.”
Atul kochhar ... Ur remark on Quantico was wrong... VHP terrorist vandalized the gate of Taj Mahal today, they lynch a man in broad daylight, they stab a child in train nd still ur saying saffron terrorist doesn't exist..
— Akhtar"proud Indian" (@cr7akhtar) June 13, 2018
@mallucomrade added: “Why this furore over the destruction of an ASI installed Taj Mahal gate? The party ruling over us destroyed a 400-year-old mosque and unleashed terror all over the country! And that’s how they came into power. Won’t be shocked if they were to destroy the Taj Mahal too.”
Why this furore over the destruction of an ASI installed Taj Mahal gate? The party ruling over us destroyed a 400 year old mosque and unleashed terror all over the country! And that's how they came into power. Won't be shocked if they were to destroy the Taj Mahal too. pic.twitter.com/B08Z7WAh6l
— Sankar Das (@mallucomrade) June 12, 2018
@TheBenno70 shared another news report: “After Taj Mahal west gate vandalised by VHP members, BJP MLA says – ‘give it Indian identity’.”
After Taj Mahal west gate vandalised by VHP members, BJP MLA says – ´give it Indian identity´: https://t.co/cKuw84Gqjb
— The Good German (@TheBenno70) June 13, 2018
According to Indian newspaper, Financial Express: “BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MLA Surendra Singh from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday reiterated his demand to rename the white mausoleum to give it an Indian identity ... suggested the monument should be renamed as ‘Ram Mahal’ or ‘Krishna Mahal’.”
And there are BJP MLAs constantly wanting the Taj Mahal to be renamed. This stubbornness to try and change history and eclipse an entire chapter despite its incomparable contributions, on the basis of religion, is systemic and dangerous.
— Saumya Baijal (@saumyabaijal) June 13, 2018
@DrSeijo wrote: “I believe they will demolish Taj Mahal ... as they can’t see the temple from that side properly. Religious extremism is the most dangerous phenomenon prevailing and exploited for personal gains. The new tool for politicos.”
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 Archaeology Department complained to the local police, after which the local administration has registered a case against 4 to 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.