Hindutva group protests Eid al-Adha prayers at Taj Mahal
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Agra: Members of the All India Hindu Mahasabha (AIHM) staged a protest on Thursday after authorities permitted Eid al-Adha prayers and granted free entry to worshippers at the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.
Anticipating demonstrations, police deployed security personnel around the monument and took preventive measures to maintain law and order. Several members of the Hindutva organisation were detained during the protest.
AIHM Metropolitan President Vishal Kumar was later placed under house arrest at his residence in Shahganj, police said.
“The Hindu Mahasabha opposes the permission for namaz at the Taj Mahal,” said Meera Rathore, the district president of the organisation.
Other leaders, including Nitesh Bhardwaj and Mahila Morcha Metropolitan President Nisha Thakur, also voiced strong opposition to the decision to allow prayers at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans such as “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Jai Shri Ram” in the presence of police personnel.
Security was tightened across the Taj Mahal complex to ensure the peaceful conduct of Eid al-Adha prayers. Police officers from Shahganj police station and other units were deployed at the site as part of the security arrangements.
Authorities said the situation remained under control and adequate measures were taken to prevent any disruption during the prayers.