NEW DELHI: The gates of Taj Mahal were vandalised by members of a radical Hindu group, arguing that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was blocking entry to a 400-year-old Shiva temple.
Member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were seen carrying hammers and assorted equipment to target western entrance to the site, a video footage showed. VHP chanted slogans against the authorities and were dissatisfied with the police’s explanation that an alternate path to the Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple was available.
An FIR was registered against five VHP members and another 20-25 unidentified individuals for rioting, assault and use of criminal force against a public servant after the ASI filed a complaint with the police.
According to VHP’s Ravi Dubey, the group was forced to take this step because the ASI was removing all elements of Hindu culture in and around the Taj Mahal.