Lucknow, December 28
The ongoing Taj Mahal celebrations continue to raise more heat than light. This time the Central Government has to do some explaining.
State Tourism Minister Kokab Hamid has asked how yoga classes were allowed under the main dome of the protected monument. Even videography of these classes was allowed in flagrant violation of the provisions of the Indian Archaeology Act.
Charging the Central Government with laxity towards security of the protected monument, Mr Hamid pointed out that according to the provisions of the Indian Archaeology Act, 1959, any kind of meeting, reception, programme, conference or entertainment programme could not be organised at the monument. So much so that even the state government was not granted permission to organise a cultural programme at Mehtab Bagh, which had then to be held at Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri during the International Taj Festival, informed the minister.
Despite clear guidelines by the Supreme Court towards the safety of the monument the Central Government openly flouted it and allowed a so-called yoga expert, Vikram Chaudhuri, to hold yoga classes in front of Mehman Khana at the unique heritage monument, obviously with clear permission from ASI and CISF personnel present there, accused Mr Hamid.
The angry minister demanded to know that when the apex court and ASI rules are clear about prohibiting photography beyond a certain point, how the security outfit manned by the central forces did not object to the entire proceedings being recorded by a camera team.
