No more Independence Day speeches from Red Fort?

A virtual war of words in on in social media today after the comment of BJP MLA on our national monument, the one and only Taj Mahal.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Twitter: “No more Red Fort speeches on 15th August? The PM will address the nation from Nehru Stadium…”

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said: “The Red Fort was built by the same group of traitors. Will PM Narendra Modi stop hoisting the flag from there? Can Modi and Yogi ask domestic, foreign tourists to not visit the Taj?”

Owaisi went on to say that Hyderabad House in Delhi, the venue for hosting foreign dignitaries, was built by “traitor”. “Even Hyderabad House in Delhi was built by “Traitor” Will Modi stop hosting Foreign Dignitaries?” he asked. Hyderabad House was built by Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad.

This was the counter to Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Sangeet Som who said the Taj Mahal was built by traitors and is a “blot on Indian culture” remark. Their argument was that Red Fort was built by the same traitors and should therefore be shunned by this majoritarian regime.