Amid the ongoing controversy and political slugfest over Taj Mahal and its prominence in India's cultural heritage, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit the monument today.

Around 14,000 policemen have been deployed across the city for the visit of Yogi Adityanath. He is also the first UP CM to visit Taj Mahal.

The historical edifice has been in the news after BJP MLA Sangeet Som said that it was built by a traitor and was a blot on India's cultural heritage.

Som's comments were followed by a barrage of reactions from across the political spectrum.

However, the BJP and CM Adityanath distanced themselves from the cacophony. Adityanath in an exclusive interview to India Today said that Som's comments were his personal views and the state government did not endorse it.

Adityanath will be part of a tourism programme at the Taj Mahal. He will visit the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and also visit the Shah Jahan park in the vicinity. The chief minister is expected to inspect various surrounding places.

Yogi Adityanath will also lay foundation of tourist pathway from Taj Mahal to Agra Fort.

HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES:

3:10 PM: Yogi Adityanath said that his government wants that a tourist coming to Agra to visit Taj Mahal also visits Mathura and Govardhan. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that Taj Mahal was built by the blood and sweat of Indian labourers.

Everyday 40,000-50,000 tourists come to Agra, if we can provide them adequate security, the number will rise to 2.5 Lakh - 3 Lakh: UP CM pic.twitter.com/QyvcG5YtNS October 26, 2017

3:00 PM: Hitting out at his detractors, Yogi Adityanath said that those objecting to his Agra visit are the ones who divided people in the name of caste. He said that Agra is a huge centre for tourism, adding that the efforts are on to increase the number of visitors to 2-3 lakh per day.

Only those ppl are raising questions over my Agra visit who have divided the society on the basis of castes: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Agra pic.twitter.com/pK5lFI3lpB - ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 26, 2017

12:22 PM: UP CM Adityanath exits the Taj Mahal tomb.

12:00 PM - UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits Taj Mahal, likely to spend 30 minutes inside the monument.

10:20 AM - UP CM headed to meet the safai karyakartas before visiting the Taj Mahal.

10:15 AM - Local MLAs also participate in the cleanliness drive while chants of 'Yogi, Yogi' rise from the crowd.

10:10 AM - Yogi Adityanath will be spearheading the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan from Agra, begins by sweeping in the Taj complex.

#Visuals Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes part in cleanliness drive at the Western Gate of Taj Mahal. #Agra pic.twitter.com/WTyah3s0Dp - ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 26, 2017

10:07 AM - CM Yogi Adityanath arrives at the parking lot of Taj Mahal amidst chants of 'Jai Sri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

9:57 AM - CM Adityanath stressed on the need to complete the work of the check dam within the stipulated time.

9:48 AM - Adityanath inspects the proposed rubber check dam model in Agra.

9:40 AM - Yogi Adityanath will launch the Taj Swachhta drive on visiting the historical monument.

9:32 AM - CM Adityanath slotted to visit Shah Jahan park at 10 AM.

9:08 AM - CM Adityanath annunces the contruction of rubber barrage near Nagla Patam village in UP.

9:00 AM - CM Adityanath reaches Yamuna River.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrives in Agra. pic.twitter.com/pHrLSPYrRh

- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 26, 2017