ASI shares pics of underground rooms of Taj Mahal; shows recent renovation work

Amid demand for opening the 22 underground rooms of Taj Mahal, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) issued a newsletter showing renovation work recently undertaken in the rooms.

By sharing pics of renovated rooms located below the Taj Mahal, the ASI is believed to have tried to convey the message that there is nothing controversial inside and hence no need for scrutiny. The ASI shared four pictures – two each before and after the restoration work. The caption reads: “Repair to the walls and stairs etc. included scrapping of old and decayed lime plaster and replaster,” the caption reads. Besides, the ASI shared two more photos of repair works carried out in the outer area of the Taj Mahal, which is a world heritage site located on the banks of Yamuna river in Agra (Uttar Pradesh).

The newsletter further stated that the maintenance of underground cells was carried out to remove “decayed and disintegrated lime plaster” and replace it by lime plaster and traditional lime processing.

Earlier, a BJP youth wing leader had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Allahabad High Court seeking directions from the court to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open 22 closed rooms in the Taj Mahal to ascertain the presence of idols of Hindu deities.

The Allahabad High Court dismissed the PIL and asked the petitioner not to mock the PIL system.

The petitioner asked the court to constitute a fact-finding committee and a report from the ASI. The petitioner quoted claims of a section of historians, who say the Taj Mahal is an old Shiv Temple which was known as Tejo Mahalaya.