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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Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds roadshow in south Kolkata to end campaign
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertook a roadshow in south Kolkata spanning over six kilometres on Monday afternoon at the fag end of campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly election.
The TMC chief was accompanied by party Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose and candidates Aroop Biswas and Debasish Kumar from Tollygunge and Rashbehari, respectively.
People waiting on the roadside and on rooftops and balconies waved at Banerjee as she greeted them with folded hands, walking briskly, as her party compatriots had a tough time keeping pace with her.
The chief minister is contesting from the Bhabanipur assembly seat, where she is pitted against her bete noire, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, who defeated her in the 2021 elections in Nandigram.
Banerjee was subsequently elected from Bhabanipur in a byelection.
The roadshow started at Sukanta Setu in the Jadavpur area and culminated at Gopalnagar crossing, past her Kalighat residence, with two small stopovers in between.
TMC flags, festoons, cutouts of Banerjee and banners with slogans in favour of the candidates adorned the roadsides through which the road show passed and culminated at around 5.30 pm.
A large number of TMC supporters participated in the roadshow that Banerjee conducted to end her campaign for the 2026 assembly election in West Bengal.
