‘Taj Mahal was originally a temple,’ says Kailash Vijayvargiya:MP minister claims Mumtaz was first buried in Burhanpur and later shifted

Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has triggered fresh controversy after claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple and was later converted into a tomb by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan. He made these remarks at a public event in Bina, where he also commented on Bihar, the Congress, and local political equations. Claim about the Taj Mahal Addressing people from the stage, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said the Taj Mahal was originally a temple. He claimed that Shah Jahan converted it into a mausoleum. Vijayvargiya further said that Mumtaz was first buried in Burhanpur. Later, her body was shifted to the site where a temple was allegedly being built, and the Taj Mahal was constructed there. Remarks made at Bina event The minister was in Bina on Wednesday to inaugurate a cricket tournament. The tournament was organised in memory of late Rakesh Sirothia. During his speech, Vijayvargiya also made a comment about people from Bihar. He said it is not necessary for someone from Bihar to be humble. However, he praised BJP’s National Working President Naveen Nitin for moving ahead with humility. Statement on Congress MLA Nirmala Sapre From the same stage, Vijayvargiya referred to Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre. He said she had contested elections on a Congress ticket. He added that she is now with the BJP. His remark is being linked to possible future political developments in the region. Message to players Vijayvargiya introduced himself to the players at the event. He urged them to play with sportsmanship. Remembering Rakesh Sirothia, he said the late leader was full of positive energy.He added that Sirothia always worked to unite society. Ongoing court disputes over the Taj Mahal Several legal cases have been filed in recent years claiming the Taj Mahal was a Shiva temple known as Tejo Mahalaya. Case 1: Claim of fraudulent takeover by Shah Jahan On July 23, 2024, Kunwar Ajay Tomar, State President of Yogi Youth Brigade, filed a case in an Agra court. The case is still under hearing. Tomar claimed the Taj Mahal is actually the Tejo Mahalaya Shiva Temple. He alleged that Shah Jahan fraudulently took the building from Raja Jai Singh. According to the petition, the structure was built by King Paramardidev between 1155 and 1212 AD. Later, kings Man Singh and Jai Singh used it as a palace and protected the Shiva temple. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Government of India are respondents in the case. Case 2: Separate suit claiming Shiva temple Another case has been filed in the Agra court by the Yogeshwar Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh Trust. It also claims the Taj Mahal is the Tejo Mahalaya temple of Lord Shiva. The Ministry of Culture, ASI officials and Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department are respondents.The next hearing is scheduled for November 27. Earlier claims and petitions Historian P.N. Oak wrote a book in 1965 claiming the Taj Mahal was a Shiva temple. In 2000, he filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which was dismissed. In 2004, a similar petition was filed in the Allahabad High Court. It was dismissed in February 2005. In another case, an objection was raised over a picture of Lord Krishna in the Taj Mahal gallery. The ASI later resolved the issue by changing the display panel. In 2022, a former BJP councillor proposed renaming the Taj Mahal as Tejo Mahalaya in the municipal corporation.