Akhilesh Yadav Slams UP Govt Over 'Failure' To Maintain Taj Mahal: 'Tarnishing India's Global Image'

Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP-led UP government for failing to maintain the Taj Mahal and said that it was "tarnishing the image of the country" on a global scale.

Samajwadi Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state over failing to maintain the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated along the banks of the Yamuna River in the city, was recently in the headlines after several videos of waterlogging at the Mughal monument’s premises and water leakage from its main dome, surfaced on social media. 

Just days after the water leakage reports and videos, another clip of the Taj surfaced, showing plants sprouting between its marble stones on the northern side of its dome. Several tour operators questioned the efforts being taken to preserve the monument, which draws a significant tourist population. 

Criticising the Yogi Adityanath-led government over the mausoleum’s preservation, Akhilesh Yadav stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "The BJP government and its dormant departments have completely failed to maintain the Taj Mahal, the wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world.” 

He then enlisted several points in his post to highlight the alleged damages at the popular tourist site, blaming the administration for “tarnishing the country’s image globally”.

• There is a possibility of rust in the metal of the urn on the main dome,


• Water is dripping from the main dome


• The news of trees growing in the dome is in the headlines. If the roots of such trees grow, then cracks can appear in the Taj Mahal


• The Taj Mahal complex has become a sanctuary for monkeys


• There is a problem of waterlogging in the Taj Mahal complex


• The tourists are facing issues about whether they should admire the Taj Mahal or deal with the problems

The SP chief further questioned where the funds meant for the monument’s preservation were being used.

“Due to all these reasons, the country's image is tarnished at the global level among the tourists coming from all over the world. ⁠⁠The question is where do the crores of rupees of funds that come for the maintenance of Taj Mahal go? The government should be a living and active example, not just a monument,” Yadav added.

ASI Assures Prompt Removal Of Plants Growing On Taj Mahal's Walls 

Meanwhile, National General Secretary of the Tourism Guide Federation of India, Shakeel Chauhan, reacted to plants sprouting at the Taj. He stated that the Archaeological Survey of India spends Rs 4 crore annually to preserve the Taj Mahal. He added that such images tarnish the reputation of the monument and called for an immediate conservation effort after the rains subside, the Times of India reported.

Superintending archaeologist Rajkumar Patel responded to the reports of plant growth from the monument. He said that all the plants on the mausoleum’s walls were removed last month.

The ASI Superintendent said that plants tend to grow during the rainy season as water seeps into the monument's joints. He further assured that the plant that can be seen in the video had appeared in the last 15 days and would be promptly removed.