FOUR DAYS after the Maharashtra government announced its plans to build a Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in Agra, where the Maratha warrior king was put under house arrest, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday also spoke about his government's plan to develop a “grand” Shivaji memorial in Agra. Questioning what connection the Mughals had with Agra, Adityanath said that the actual identity of Agra is linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji and that is why his government also changed the name of the Mughal Museum to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum and is taking forward a project to build a memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as well. “Humne kaha Mughalon ka sambandh Agra se kya hai?” (We said what is the connection of Agra with Mughals?)” said the CM. The CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 635 crore in Agra. Citing the development projects undertaken by the state as well as the Centre keeping Agra's status of Taj Trapezium zone in mind, Adityanath alleged that the previous government, instead of bringing Metro rail, drinking water system and other development to Agra, instead chose to develop a “Mughal Museum”. Adityanath underlined Agra's connection with “Braj Bhumi” and to Vrindavan, Banke Bihari and Radha Rani. Claiming that in the past eight years, his government has taken both “Virasat” and “Vikas” alongside, Adityanath alleged that those running the government before 2017 had a “negative mindset” and that is why the public voted them out. He pointed out that in the past eight years, his government built the Vishwanath corridor in Kashi and also mentioned the Ram Lalla consecration in Ayodhya last year, how the Vindhawasini Dham corridor was built and added that now his government is focusing on the development of Mathura-Vrindavan. The government has made provisions in the present budget for the development of Banke Bihari Corridor in Vrindavan. A few days ago, the Maharashtra government said it had decided to acquire a plot of land to construct a grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Agra. A government resolution announced this, saying, “The government will build a grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Agra, where he was under house arrest…In order to achieve the right impact of the glorious history of Maharaj in this bravery memorial, the necessary activities (museum, audio-visual programs, documentaries, etc.) will be implemented through the (tourism) department.”
