Bismillah Khan's family and municipality refute Akhilesh Yadav's bulldozer claims

A major controversy has erupted over claims that a bulldozer was used on the old house of the Bharat Ratna awardee Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan in Varanasi. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had launched sharp attacks on the BJP government on social media regarding this matter, but now both Bismillah Khan's family and the Varanasi Municipality have completely refuted these claims. Family members clarified that no bulldozer was used on their ancestral house, but they themselves are reconstructing the dilapidated building.

The entire controversy began with a video shared by Akhilesh Yadav on the social media platform X, in which a part of the house appears to have collapsed. Akhilesh Yadav termed this incident as an action taken by the BJP government and described it as an attack on the musical heritage of a Bharat Ratna awardee and the honour of the country. He wrote in his post, "What else to expect from those for whom the Shehnai did not play?"

Akhilesh Yadav had termed those associated with the BJP and its ideology as anti-art and anti-artist. He alleged that people with the narrow ideology and conservatives of the BJP are always against artists, because creative people play a role in bringing change to society. He further added that positive art promotes compassion and tolerance in society, which is why the BJP considers every form of art as an obstacle in the way of its agenda or wants to use art to make it negative.

The SP chief further stated that destroying the legacy of someone who holds the prestigious title of 'Bharat Ratna' is equivalent to damaging not just their dignity, but the honour of the entire country. He leveled serious allegations against the BJP for harming the country through the politics of hatred. Akhilesh Yadav announced that if his government is formed in Uttar Pradesh, he will build a 'Shrvan-Sangrahalaya' to protect the musical heritage of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan. He had termed this alleged bulldozer action as extremely condemnable.

However, following Akhilesh Yadav's post, members of Ustad Bismillah Khan's family came forward to clarify these claims. Ustad's grandson Siftein Hussain and Afaq Haider clarified that no bulldozer of any kind has been used on their old house. They stated that Akhilesh Yadav might have received incorrect information or might have posted such a post due to some misconception. Family members mentioned an important point that their house is located in the Sarayhadaha area of Varanasi, where the lanes are so narrow that it is impossible for a bulldozer to reach.

According to the family, all the sons and daughters of Bismillah Khan had decided to reconstruct this ancestral house a long time ago. The house was in a very dilapidated condition and there was a fear that a major accident could occur at any time. Keeping this risk in mind, the family members decided to give the house a new look with mutual cooperation. Family members emphatically stated that they are carrying out this entire reconstruction work at their own expense and have not taken any kind of financial assistance from the government. Their main objective is to preserve this historic building as a heritage and build a museum of Bismillah Khan here.

On the other hand, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) has also rejected Akhilesh Yadav's claims. The Municipality's Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava stated that the Municipality has started a project in honour of the city's eminent personalities. Under this project, the roads leading to their residences will be developed on a theme basis based on their lives and contributions, and one room of their house will be converted into a museum.

Srivastava further stated that in this regard, discussions were held with the family of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan regarding establishing a museum at their residence. However, the family members had not given their consent for this proposal. Referring to the dilapidated condition of the house, the family stated that they themselves want to demolish this structure and redevelop it independently. As the Municipality did not receive consent for this project, they could not build the museum, and the Municipality has no role in the process of demolishing the house.

Chowk Police Station SHO Vijay Kumar Shukla also confirmed this matter. He stated that the owner of the property is himself demolishing the house. The Municipality had previously issued a notice regarding the bad condition of the house. He further added that there was an internal dispute within the family regarding certain parts of the property, due to which family members had approached the police station. Now that dispute has been resolved and the owner is carrying out the demolition of his property.

Thus, against the claims of bulldozer action made by Akhilesh Yadav, the family, the police, and the municipality have all given negative responses and described the incident as internal reconstruction carried out by the family.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was a world-renowned Shehnai player, who was honoured with the country's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna' by the Government of India for his dedication to art and music. He was known as a great personality in the field of Indian classical music.