‘Taj Was a Temple’, claims BJP Minister

• Kailash Vijayvargiya claims Taj Mahal was originally a temple
• Remarks made during a public event in Sagar district
• Comment on people from Bihar also triggers backlash
• Congress accuses BJP leaders of spreading confusion

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Dec: Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has triggered a political controversy after claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a temple that was later converted into a tomb by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The 69-year-old leader made the remark while inaugurating a cricket tournament in Bina town of Sagar district. Vijayvargiya claimed that Mumtaz Mahal was initially buried in Burhanpur and that her body was later shifted to a site where a temple was being constructed, following which the Taj Mahal was built there.

The statement sparked immediate reactions at the venue and soon went viral on social media, drawing sharp and polarised responses. Supporters linked his remarks to what they described as alternative historical interpretations, while critics termed the statement provocative and misleading.

At the same event, Vijayvargiya also made a comment about people from Bihar, saying humility was not necessary for people from the state, though he praised BJP leader Nitin Nabin for progressing through humility. This comment too triggered mixed reactions online, with some calling it casual political talk and others labelling it inappropriate.

The controversy comes close on the heels of criticism Vijayvargiya faced over remarks following the alleged harassment of two Australian women cricketers in Indore, where he had suggested that the players should have been more careful about informing authorities of their movements.

Reacting sharply, Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said BJP ministers were crossing boundaries and creating confusion in public discourse. He alleged that some leaders were making irresponsible statements to remain in the spotlight and questioned the BJP’s stance on Bihar.

Gupta also mocked a series of controversial remarks by BJP leaders, suggesting that a few ministers should write their own history books.

This is not the first time claims about the Taj Mahal’s origins have surfaced, but political observers note that when such statements come from a serving cabinet minister, they acquire far greater political and social traction.