Olympian Mohammed Shahid's house razed in Varanasi; Congress decries BJP govt
Varanasi (PTI): A portion of Padma Shri awardee Olympian Mohammed Shahid's house here was demolished by a bulldozer in a road-widening drive, triggering a protest from the late hockey player's family.
According to the administration, the demolition was carried out only on those properties for which compensation had already been paid.
The iconic hockey player's home is located along the Kachery-Sandaha route, where the demolition drive was carried out on Sunday.
Shahid's sister-in-law, Nazneen, claimed that she had not received any compensation and did not own any alternative property.
"We have nowhere else to go with our family," she said.
His cousin, Mushtaq, said the family is preparing for a wedding, scheduled in October, and alleged that the affected household did not have even an inch of land elsewhere.
"If this continues, we will be forced onto the streets," he said.
Mushtaq also alleged that while road widening elsewhere had been limited to 21 metres, in his locality, it was extended to 25 metres.
Varanasi ADM (City) Alok Verma said, "In the road widening project, action is being taken to remove only those properties for which compensation has already been paid. Sometimes, during bulldozer operations, slight deviations can occur, but no structure is being arbitrarily demolished."
Asked about Shahid's house, Verma stated that the structure housed nine people, six of whom had received compensation. The remaining three had obtained stay orders from the court, and their portions were left untouched, he said.
"So far, 13 houses have been demolished as part of the drive," he said.
Verma added that Shahid's family had earlier asked for more time, citing a wedding.
The administration, in response, requested their Aadhaar and account details for the compensation transfer, but they failed to submit the documents.
Uttar Pradesh UP Congress president Ajay Rai denounced the demolition of the sportsman's house.
"The BJP government has demolished the house of Padma Shri Mohammed Shahid. This was not just a house, but a symbol of the nation's sporting legacy. The BJP government, which insults talent and respected figures on the land of Kashi, will not be forgiven by the people," he said.
BJP's Mahanagar president Pradeep Agrahari said that only those who had received compensation whose houses were demolished.
"The road widening will benefit the entire population of Kashi. Opposition party members are making baseless statements about the road widening to mislead and provoke the public," he said.
The BJP leader added that roads are being widened at many places in the city, and the affected people are being duly compensated for it.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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