New Delhi: A recent news report has raised significant security concerns after revealing that an unlicensed guide accompanied the United States Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, during his visit to Fatehpur Sikri in Agra. The guide, identified as Shadab, reportedly joined Garcetti and his family on a tour to Agra.
The revelation of the US Ambassador’s association with an unlicensed guide surfaced when the guide posted a video on social media, showcasing his presence alongside Garcetti and his family, even in the presence of police personnel.
Rajkumar Patel, the Superintending Archaeologist, confirmed on Saturday that they had received information about an unauthorized tourist guide escorting VVIPs around the monument. Patel emphasized that it is the responsibility of the police to take action against such unauthorized guides, particularly concerning VVIP security in the area, as reported by the Times Of India.
Standard protocols dictate that only licensed guides are permitted to operate within the Taj Mahal complex and other monuments under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A comprehensive list of licensed tourist guides is readily available at the tourism police station.
Despite these regulations, there remains a practice of unlicensed guides congregating at the parking lots of the monument’s East and West Gates in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, as highlighted in a report by the Times of India.
