ASI to renovate coronation site of Aurangzeb, Delhi Sikh community opposes the move

ASI has decided to spend 2-5 crores to renovate Sheesh Mahal in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh against which Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has taken a stand.

New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India has decided to spend 2-5 crores to spruce up dilapidated 17th century monument Sheesh Mahal in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh but Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Saturday has taken a stand against it asking the govt to stop ''justifying Aurangzeb's act of violence''.

According to the officials, the preliminary ceremony of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's coronation is said to have taken place in Sheesh Mahal during the year 1658. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has opposed the decision proposed by Archaeological Survey of India.

DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was responsible for conversion of thousands of Hindus and such atrocious personality should not be celebrated. "Aurangzeb's coronation site renovation can only give one message to the world that the heinous actions taken by Aurangzeb is justified," Sirsa added.

"We oppose this renovation and if needed we will protest against this," Manjinder Singh Sirsa asserted. Shalimar Bagh was built by Shahjahan and this monument came under archaeological Survey of India's protection in 1983. The restoration which will be supervised by Archaeological survey of India's Delhi mini circle team will include a six month detailed brickwork.

As per information lime plaster will be used to fix gaps in the bricks which are thin red colour bricks used in Mughal architecture.