Demolition of part of Ustad Bismillah Khan's Varanasi house sparks row as Akhilesh blames BJP

Part of the house of renowned shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has been demolished. The incident has sparked a controversy. On one side, the municipal corporation says the family decided to demolish it themselves because the building had become dilapidated. On the other, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has blamed the BJP government for the incident.

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation said it had earlier served notice on Bismillah Khan's family members about the dilapidated condition of the house. At first, the family members did not act on it. The corporation said they later decided to demolish it themselves.

Samajwadi Party chief and opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav vented his anger at the BJP government over the incident. In a post on the social media platform X on Saturday morning, he described the partial demolition of the house as "highly condemnable". He wrote, "What else can be expected from those for whom the shehnai never played?"

The Samajwadi Party chief alleged that the BJP and its "narrow-minded allies" always stand against art and artists. He said that because of a conservative mindset, they do not like creative people. Yet creative people build the foundation of social change. Art increases empathy and tolerance among people. That is why the BJP sees every expression of art as an obstacle in the path of its political agenda. Sometimes it even uses art for its own purposes and takes it in a negative direction.

Linking the demolition of Bismillah Khan's house to the honour of the country, Akhilesh wrote that demolishing the house of a Bharat Ratna recipient is not only an insult to his dignity and honour, but also a blow to India's honour. He alleged that the BJP is now harming the country, burning in the fire of hatred. He also promised that if he comes to power, a "listening museum" will be built to preserve Bismillah Khan's musical heritage.

However, municipal corporation officials have given a different account in response to Akhilesh's allegations. They claim the corporation has no involvement in the demolition of the house. The family members demolished part of the house on their own initiative.

Sandeep Srivastava, public relations officer of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, said the corporation has taken up a project to honour the city's eminent personalities. Under it, there are plans to decorate the roads leading to their houses by highlighting their lives and contributions. There is also an initiative to turn one room of each person's house into a museum.

Srivastava said that as part of this project, there were discussions with Bismillah Khan's family about building a museum in the Bharat Ratna recipient's house. But the family did not agree to the proposal. Citing the dilapidated condition of the building, the family members themselves wanted to demolish it and rebuild it afresh.

According to Srivastava, because the family did not agree, the municipal corporation could not build a museum there. He said the corporation also bears no responsibility for the demolition work.

Vijay Kumar Shukla, officer-in-charge of Chawk police station in Varanasi, also said the owner of the house is himself carrying out the demolition work. The municipal corporation had earlier given notice about the poor condition of the building. He added that a dispute had arisen among family members over demolishing parts of the house, and they had even gone to the police station over it. But that dispute has been resolved, Shukla said. At present, the owner is demolishing part of his own property.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of the most influential artists of Indian classical music. He played a special role in establishing the shehnai as an important instrument of classical music. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music, he was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2001.