AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi took potshots at the Archaeological Survey of India over a video showing water leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal. As the video went viral this week, Owaisi slammed the ASI, saying it “earns hundreds of crore from Taj Mahal but this is how it treats one of the biggest symbols of Indian culture.”
In a post on X on Saturday, Owaisi said, “Funnily, the same ASI argues that Waqf monuments should be taken by over by it so that it can maintain them.”
“This is like failing a 10th class exam and applying for a PhD!,” Owaisi added as he shared one of the viral videos.
A purported 20-second video of a submerged garden on the premises of the Taj Mahal has been doing the rounds on social media since Thursday after heavy rains. Agra in Uttar Pradesh, where Taj Mahal is situated, witnessed an incessant rain from the past three days due to which water logging problem could be seen in most of the parts of the city.
On Saturday, Superintending chief of the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Agra circle Rajkumar Patel told news agency PTI that a drone camera was used to check the main dome.
“Yes, we have witnessed the leakage in the main dome. After that, when we checked, it was due to seepage and there was no damage to the main dome. We have checked the main dome through a drone camera,” Patel told PTI.
A local resident, who is working as a government approved tour guide, said Taj Mahal is the pride of Agra and the entire nation, adding it provides employment to hundreds of locals and those who are working in the tourism industry.
“Proper care should be taken of the monument because for the tourism industry people it is the only hope,” said Monika Sharma, a government approved tour guide.
