Hyderabad: BJP MP from Telangana T. Raja Singh has demanded an inquiry into expenditure on the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The MLA wrote a letter to Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, demanding an inquiry.
He sought information regarding the funds allocated and spent by the ASI on the maintenance of Aurangzeb’s tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra.
Raja Singh, who represents the Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad, wanted to know the total amount spent by the ASI on the upkeep of this tomb over the years. He sought year-wise expenditure details incurred on maintenance, security, and other related aspects. He also wanted to know the justification for continued government spending on the tomb of Aurangzeb, a ruler who was ‘responsible for the destruction of our temples, the killing of Hindu kings and the suppression of our culture’.
Raja Singh, who is known for making provocative speeches, said not a single rupee of taxpayer’s money should be spent on maintaining the tomb of a ‘tyrant who caused immense suffering to our ancestors’. “The government should consider halting any further expenditure on the site immediately as it holds no relevance to our cultural heritage and history of valour,” wrote Raja Singh.
Alleging that Aurangzeb was responsible for the destruction of hundreds of Hindu temples, the BJP MLA attached a couple of pictures saying they highlight the ‘dark history’ of Aurangzeb.
