Hindu activists protest as seer says he was denied entry to Taj Mahal due to his saffron robes

Hindu activists on Wednesday staged a protest outside the ASI office here after an Ayodhya seer claimed that he was denied entry to Taj Mahal because he wore saffron and carried a Brahmdand'.

But an Archaeological Survey of India official said the seer was refused entry not because he wore saffron robes but because he carried an object which security personnel wanted him to deposit in a locker.

He was referring to 'Brahmdand', a stick covered with saffron clothes which has a religious significance.

Had the seer explained the religious significance of the 'Brahmdand', the security staff would not have denied him entry, Agra ASI circle official Raj Kumar Patel told PTI.

The ASI even allowed a group of protesting activists to enter the monument later in saffron clothes with one of them also carrying the Brahmdand', Patel said.

Hindu activists staged the protest after a video surfaced on social media with the seer identifying himself as "Jagadguru Paramhansacharya from Ayodhya district" and alleging that he visited Taj Mahal with his two disciples on Tuesday but was denied entry to the monument.

In the video, he said the ASI and security personnel stopped him from entering the Taj Mahal premises due to his saffron clothes and also asked him to keep the Brahmdand' outside.

"I came here as it is Tejo Mahal and a temple of Lord Shiva. Students have been taught false history that it is Taj Mahal," he added in the video.

Denying the seer's allegations, Patel said "We have the video footage of the Swamiji in which he is seen at the security point of the western gate of Taj Mahal."

"Swamiji was not stopped from entering the Taj Mahal premises due to his saffron attire. The ASI and security staffers had asked him to keep an object he was carrying with him at the locker room or outside the Taj Mahal premises," he added.

"We have to follow security procedures and for that everything is checked properly," he said.