Taj is India's heritage, UP CM's visit will help in its development: Sharma

New Delhi: Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma on Thursday said the Taj Mahal is the country's heritage and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit to Agra would help in the development of both the monument and the city.

"Taj Mahal is the country's heritage. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. Adityanath can go anywhere in the state. For the development of Taj Mahal and for the development of tourism, it is the CM's duty to go there and it his right," said Sharma on the sidelines of the 112th annual session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce.

"His visit will help in the Taj Mahal as well as Agra's development," he added.

Yogi's visit comes in the backdrop of statements by BJP leaders that the Taj was a blot on Indian culture and history.