Muslims agitate against Friday ticket at Taj

Muslims agitate against Friday ticket at Taj
SIRAJ QURESHI

AGRA, NOV 3: Muslims staged a demonstration in front of the Taj Mahal in protest against the Archaeological Survey of India's decision to allow entry inside the monument only by tickets.

A vast crowd, including people from Tajganj and villages around the city, turned up for their prayers. After initial resistance from the ASI guards, they managed to invade the main platform of the monument. The guards fled from their posts. Some people allegedly tried to manhandle the counter clerks and forced them to return the fee charged taken from the visitors, forcing the counter to close down.

Muslims had been opposing the ticket system since its announcement. They have been using the monument for their weekly namaz and were allowed free entry till recently.

The ASI today formally imposed the Friday ticket at the Taj (Rs 10 for Indians and $10 for foreigners) and other monuments. The monument records the maximum number of visitors on Friday. After the Agra Development Authority (ADA) imposed the Rs-500 ticket for foreigners, most of them had been visiting the Taj on Friday.

The district administration reportedly refused to help the ASI in preventing the invasion. Police officials at Tajganj police station were unwilling to restrict the entry of Muslims, fearing an outbreak of violence.

The Foreign Tourist Traders & Exporters Association distributed ``khajoor and water'' among the people gathered as a symbol of communal harmony.