National
Invaders who wanted to wipe out Hindus built the Taj: BJP MLA (Lead)
Meerut, Oct 16 (IANS) BJP leader Sangeet Som, known for his inflammatory speeches and accused of instigating the deadly Muzzafarnagar riots in 2013, has triggered a fresh row by saying the Taj Mahal, one of India’s top tourist destinations, was built by “invaders” and was a “blot” on Indian culture and history.
The controversial BJP lawmaker from Sardhana in Meerut also misquoted history by saying that Shah Jahan, who built the 17th century marble mausoleum in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, had jailed his father and wanted to wipe out Hindus from the country.
The remarks by the BJP leader at a rally in Meerut on Sunday came days after the Uttar Pradesh government removed the Taj Mahal — one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site — from the list of attractions in its tourism booklet.
“Many people were disappointed that the Taj Mahal was removed from the UP tourism booklet. What history are we talking about? Whose history?
“The creator of the Taj Mahal (Shah Jahan) imprisoned his father. He wanted to wipe out all Hindus from India,” he said.
Som wrongly quoted history saying Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had jailed his father. Shah Jahan never jailed his father Jahangir. In fact, it was Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb — the sixth Mughal king, who dethroned and jailed his father inside the Agra Fort.
The 39-year-old politician said making Mughal “invaders” part of Indian history was “unfortunate” and that it would be corrected.
“It’s unfortunate if we have such people in our history. I can guarantee that history will be changed. The Uttar Pradesh government is trying to bring the history back on the right track. The Uttar Pradesh government is trying to bring back the history of Lord Ram, Shivaji.
“I have spoken against the Mughals, Babar, Akbar, Aurangzeb, about their history. They were foreign invaders. We cannot name our roads and buildings after them. What is their contribution,” Som said, denying that he had insulted the Taj Mahal.
The BJP leader is one of the accused persons charged with instigating riots that left over 60 dead and thousands displaced in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, ahead of the 2014 polls. The Justice Vishnu Sahai Commission indicted him in 2015 for allegedly making provocative speeches that triggered the riots.
He was also accused of stoking communal tensions in Dadri after the killing of Mohammed Ikhlaq over the beef controversy.
A video clip of Som’s Taj Mahal speech went viral on Monday, triggering sharp reactions even as he repeated the comments on Monday while talking to TV channels.
However, senior BJP leader Nalin Kohli partly disowned Som’s comments. “That is his individual view. The Taj Mahal is an important part of our history. It is part of Incredible India. What happened in history cannot be erased but at least it can be well-written history.”
Several public figures took to Twitter to express their disapproval of Som’s comment. With more than 30,000 netizens commenting on the issue by Monday evening, #tajmahal became one of the most trending hashtags.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “No more Red Fort speeches on August 15. The PM will address the nation from Nehru Stadium…will fill some hearts with unabashed glee.”
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi wrote: “Even Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by “traitor”, will Modi stop hosting foreign dignitaries?”
Owasi told CNN News18 that the BJP wanted to play “a Jekyll and Hyde game…to deflect from real issues like governance”.
“Som is reflecting the views of his Prime Minister. Modi too referred to 1,200 years of servitude.”
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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