BJP leader and Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Sunday said Taj Mahal was not built by Muslims and history is proof of this claim.

Hegde, who in known for making outrageous statements that have often sparked controversy, again stoked the debate over the history of Taj Mahal.

Anant Kumar Hegde said on Sunday, "Taj Mahal was not built by Muslims. Shah Jahan in his autobiography has said he bought this palace from King Jayasimha."

"It's a Shiv Mandir that was built by King Paramatheertha, which was known as Tejo Mahalaya. Tejo Mahalaya became Taj Mahal. If we keep sleeping like this, most of our houses will also be renamed as masjids. In future, Lord Ram will be called Jahapana and Sita will become Bibi."

Hegde didn't stop at that and continued elaborating on how history has to be written and rewritten.

@AnantkumarH

Wht are ur achievements after becoming a Union Minister or as MP?

Wht are ur contributions for Karnataka’s development?

All I can say for sure,it’s deplorable tht such people have become ministers & have managed to get elected as MP’s. https://t.co/IMtjPSj9aK Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) January 27, 2019





"A person who touches a Hindu woman, he shouldn't have hands. This is how you write history," said Hegde.

Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde then added that when one writes history, it shows the courage, but when one reads history, it shows the cowardice of that person. "You decide if you want to write history or read history."

Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao took to Twitter to slam Anant Kumar for the comments. Rao wrote: @AnantkumarH Wht are ur achievements after becoming a Union Minister or as MP? Wht are ur contributions for Karnataka’s development? All I can say for sure,it’s deplorable tht such people have become ministers & have managed to get elected as MP’s (sic).

Earlier, Hegde had repeatedly raised objections to Tipu Jayanti celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, saying he was an anti-Hindu ruler.

(With inputs from Nagarjun Dwarkanath)