Akhilesh Yadav targets BJP after part of Bismillah Khan's house demolished; Varanasi officials deny role
Akhilesh Yadav slammed the "BJP and its narrow-minded allies" over the demolition in a social media post, calling them "orthodox conservatives with a narrow mindset”
Lucknow/Varanasi A dispute has arisen following the partial demolition of Bismillah Khan's residence, the renowned shehnai player. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav brought attention to the matter on Saturday, November 7, 2026, criticizing the BJP and its supporters for their narrow-mindedness. In a social media post, Yadav called them "orthodox conservatives with a narrow mindset" and condemned the destruction of a shared cultural legacy.
He vowed to undermine the BJP's rule, suggesting the construction of a museum to preserve Khan's musical heritage. However, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) denied any involvement in the demolition, stating that it was carried out by the family members themselves after they rejected a museum offer from the corporation. The VMC had sent a notice about the building's dilapidated condition, but the family chose to demolish and rebuild the house independently.
The spokesman for the VMC, Sandeep Srivastava, confirmed that discussions about a museum were held with Khan's family, but they declined the proposal. The demolition was due to the building's poor condition, and the family was resolving an internal dispute about certain property portions.
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