Suddenly, political parties discover Ustad Bismillah Khan

VARANASI: Political parties are not sparing any opportunity to draw mileage in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. On Friday, even a solemn occasion like the birth anniversary of shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan turned into an opportunity for seeking votes.

A group of BJP workers and Narendra Modi supporters went to Khan's grave at Fatman to pay tributes on his 101st birth anniversary.

Although they did not carry any party symbol or publicity material, their intentions could not be described as above board because, before going there, they called over reporters and cameramen to cover the occasion.

Congress MLA Ajay Rai, who was also present, took potshots at the Samajwadi Party-led state government, saying, "Khan saheb took the shehnai to its zenith and popularized it throughout the world. But the UP government couldn't even fulfill its promise of building a grand 'maqbara' in his honour eight years after his death."

Similarly, BJP's local media in charge Tilak Raj Mishra invited reporters and one BJP worker said, "We're here to pay our tributes to the great son of Varanasi."

Asked whether it was his first visit to the grave, he had no answer. Reacting sharply, a prominent citizen present there, said, "It was a good gesture to pay homage to the great musician, but this was certainly not the way, of politicizing it."

Mayor Ramgopal Mohle, who was also present, said, "Khan saheb was an embodiment of UP's 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb' (composite culture). To use his name at this politically crucial time should definitely be condemned."