Land on which Taj Mahal was built belonged to us, says Jaipur royal family scion Diya Kumari
India Today
BJP leader and former princess of Jaipur Diya Kumari has claimed that the land on which the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan originally belonged to the Jaipur royal family.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former princess of Jaipur Diya Kumari has claimed the land on which the Taj Mahal was built originally belonged to the Jaipur royal family. Diya Kumari asserted that she has documents that show Jaipur royal family’s claim on the land.
Diya Kumari’s remark comes after a petition has been filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court asking the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to examine the 22 locked rooms of the Taj Mahal to check for the presence of Hindu idols.
Speaking in support of the petition, BJP leader Diya Kumari said, “It should be investigated what was there before the monument was built. People have the right to know what was there originally before the 'maqbara'."
She added that there are records available with the Jaipur family and it would provide these, if required.
Diya Kumari claimed that Mughal ruler Shah Jahan had taken possession of the land belonging to her family.
“Compensation was given in lieu of the land but how much was it, whether it was accepted or not, I cannot say this because I have not studied the records which are there in our 'pothikhana'. But the land belonged to our family and Shah Jahan had acquired it,” Diya Kumari said, adding, “Since there was no judiciary, no appeal could have been made at that time. Things will be clear only after examining the records.”
When asked if a petition will also be filed in the court on behalf of the former royal family of Jaipur, BJP MP Diya Kumari that they are looking into it now and will examine what steps should be taken.
