The Crossbill News Desk
The demolition of part of the Varanasi residence of Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary shehnai exponent Ustad Bismillah Khan has sparked a political row, with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accusing the BJP of hostility towards art and cultural heritage.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation, however, maintained that the demolition was undertaken by the musician’s family after it declined the civic body’s proposal to establish a museum at the property.
Reacting to the development on Saturday, Yadav described the demolition as “utterly reprehensible!” and alleged that the BJP’s attitude towards art and artistes stemmed from its narrow ideological outlook.
“What more can you expect from those for whom the shehnai did not play?” Yadav wrote in Hindi on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday morning.
“The BJP and their narrow-minded allies are always against art and artistes because these orthodox conservatives have a narrow mindset: creative people are the ones who lay the groundwork and create the conditions for social change.
“Positive art fosters empathy and tolerance. That is why they see every form of art as an obstacle to their agenda, or else want to use art for their own agenda and turn it negative,” Yadav wrote.
“Destroying the shared legacy of someone who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna is tantamount to destroying not only their dignity and honour but also the honour of India. The BJP is harming the country by burning in the fire of hatred.
“Once in government, we will build a ‘listening museum’ to preserve the musical legacy of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan,” he wrote.
The civic body rejected the allegations, stating that the family had chosen to demolish the structure and redevelop the property after declining its offer to preserve a portion of the residence as a museum. Officials also confirmed that a notice had earlier been issued over the building’s dilapidated condition.
Sandeep Srivastava, public relations officer of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, said the civic body had undertaken a project to commemorate prominent personalities associated with the city.
"The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has initiated a project to honour the city's eminent personalities,” Srivastava told news agency PTI.
“This includes developing the roads leading to their residences based on themes reflecting their lives and contributions, as well as converting a room within each of their homes into a museum,” Srivastava said.
"In this context, discussions were held with the family of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan regarding the establishment of a museum at his residence,” he added.
“However, the family did not give their consent to this proposal. Citing the dilapidated condition of the building, the family expressed a desire to demolish the structure themselves and undertake its redevelopment independently,” Srivastava said further.
He added that the family subsequently proceeded with the demolition and that the municipal corporation had neither developed a museum nor participated in the demolition.
Chowk police station house officer Vijay Kumar Shukla also said the property owner was carrying out the demolition independently. He confirmed that the municipal corporation had previously issued a notice concerning the building’s poor structural condition.
According to Shukla, the family had approached the police over an internal dispute regarding different portions of the property. The dispute has since been settled, allowing the owner to proceed with the demolition.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation, however, maintained that the demolition was undertaken by the musician’s family after it declined the civic body’s proposal to establish a museum at the property.
Reacting to the development on Saturday, Yadav described the demolition as “utterly reprehensible!” and alleged that the BJP’s attitude towards art and artistes stemmed from its narrow ideological outlook.
“What more can you expect from those for whom the shehnai did not play?” Yadav wrote in Hindi on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday morning.
“The BJP and their narrow-minded allies are always against art and artistes because these orthodox conservatives have a narrow mindset: creative people are the ones who lay the groundwork and create the conditions for social change.
“Positive art fosters empathy and tolerance. That is why they see every form of art as an obstacle to their agenda, or else want to use art for their own agenda and turn it negative,” Yadav wrote.
“Destroying the shared legacy of someone who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna is tantamount to destroying not only their dignity and honour but also the honour of India. The BJP is harming the country by burning in the fire of hatred.
“Once in government, we will build a ‘listening museum’ to preserve the musical legacy of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan,” he wrote.
जिनके लिए शहनाई नहीं बजी, उनसे और क्या उम्मीद करना? भाजपा और उनके संकीर्ण सोच के संगी-साथी ‘कला और कलाकारों’ के हमेशा ख़िलाफ़ रहते हैं क्योंकि इन पुरातनपंथी-रूढ़िवादियों की ये संकरी मानसिकता होती है कि रचनात्मक लोग ही समाज में परिवर्तन की भूमि और भूमिका बनाते हैं। सकारात्मक कला सहृदयता को जन्म देती है और सहनशीलता को भी। इसीलिए कला के हर रूप को ये अपने एजेंडे के रास्ते में रोड़ा मानते हैं या फिर कला को अपने एजेंडे के लिए इस्तेमाल करके उसको नकारात्मक बना देना चाहते हैं। जिनके आगे ‘भारत रत्न’ लगा हो उनकी मिलीजुली विरासत को ध्वस्त करना, उनके मान-सम्मान के साथ-साथ ‘भारत’ के मान को भी ध्वस्त करने के समान है। भाजपा नफ़रत की आग में जलकर देश को नुक़सान पहुँचा रही है। सरकार में आने पर हम ‘भारत रत्न बिस्मिल्लाह ख़ान’ जी की सांगीतिक धरोहर को बचाने के लिए ‘श्रवण-संग्रहालय’ बनाएंगे घोर निंदनीय!
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 7, 2026
The civic body rejected the allegations, stating that the family had chosen to demolish the structure and redevelop the property after declining its offer to preserve a portion of the residence as a museum. Officials also confirmed that a notice had earlier been issued over the building’s dilapidated condition.
Sandeep Srivastava, public relations officer of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, said the civic body had undertaken a project to commemorate prominent personalities associated with the city.
"The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has initiated a project to honour the city's eminent personalities,” Srivastava told news agency PTI.
“This includes developing the roads leading to their residences based on themes reflecting their lives and contributions, as well as converting a room within each of their homes into a museum,” Srivastava said.
"In this context, discussions were held with the family of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan regarding the establishment of a museum at his residence,” he added.
“However, the family did not give their consent to this proposal. Citing the dilapidated condition of the building, the family expressed a desire to demolish the structure themselves and undertake its redevelopment independently,” Srivastava said further.
He added that the family subsequently proceeded with the demolition and that the municipal corporation had neither developed a museum nor participated in the demolition.
Chowk police station house officer Vijay Kumar Shukla also said the property owner was carrying out the demolition independently. He confirmed that the municipal corporation had previously issued a notice concerning the building’s poor structural condition.
According to Shukla, the family had approached the police over an internal dispute regarding different portions of the property. The dispute has since been settled, allowing the owner to proceed with the demolition.
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