The Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, is an architectural marvel and it doesn't matter who constructed it, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday.
"It is an architectural marvel built by the blood and sweat of the local people, " the Chief Minister told a public meeting here, once again distancing his government from BJP leaders who had dubbed the 17th century Mughal monument a "blot" on Indian culture.
Addressing the crowd at the GIC ground for more than an hour, he said his government would make all efforts to boost tourism - related activities so as to increase the duration of stay of the tourists in Agra and also to up the number of their arrivals.
Adityanath accused the previous government of not doing much for tourism promotion.
He said his government was firmly committed to developing the required infrastructure.
At the same time, religious tourism would receive high priority in nearby Mathura and Vrindavan, he said.