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One more claimant for Taj Mahal!

AGRA, MARCH 24. Who owns Taj Mahal? That's seems to be the knowing question over the past fortnight, with not one, but two Islamic outfits now staking a claim to one of the world's eight wonders.

The two litigants are the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and the Anjuman-e-Mohammadia, both of which are demanding control and management of the 17th century white marble monument that was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Both organizations are demanding that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) hand over the Taj Mahal to it. The ASI presently manages its upkeep.

The Anjuman-e-Mohammadia claims that before Independence, the management of the Taj was in its hands, and therefore, they had a rightful claim to it. "In 1906, at the time of the British rule in India a society with the name Anjuman-e-Mohammadia was formed. The management of all the monuments in Agra, including the Taj Mahal was taken by Anjuman-e-Mohammadia," said Hazi Jamiluddin Kureshi, secretary of Anjuman-e-Mohammadia.

On the other hand, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is trying to generate all possible documents to contradict the Anjuman-e-Mohammadia's claim. "We are taking out the documents. We have taken out documents since 1920 and all of them have Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or Government of India mentioned in them. We are making a report and will answer to them accordingly," said D. Dayalan, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI Agra.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, which owns all Muslim graveyards, had submitted a petition in the Allahabad High Court that the Taj Mahal being a mausoleum was its property. The sanctum sanctorum of the Taj Mahal, built by Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1654 for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, houses their graves. "As the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, and it's not just one but two mausoleums. As per the religion of Islam every mausoleum is a Waqf (Islamic charity). Though the Taj Mahal has become famous as the seventh wonder of the world, but since it's a tomb, it's a part of the Waqf. Even the mosque adjacent to the Taj Mahal, is a part of the Waqf. We believe that the monument is a Waqf and only has to be registered now," said Hafiz Mohammed Usman, Chairman of the Sunni Waqf Board. He said it would be incumbent on the ASI, which has ignored the board is demanding a share of the entrance fee revenue and a say in how the rest of the money is used.

The Taj Mahal, designated by the United Nations as a world heritage monument. -- ANI

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