Bismillah’s family refuses to blow Modi’s trumpet

Varanasi will go to poll on 12 May with Modi, Congress candidate Ajay Rai and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the fray. ‘We got a phone call from BJP Mayor Ramgopal Mohale on 16 April who expressed his desire to meet us. My father ustaad Zamin Hussain, and our family fried Shakeel Ahmed went to meet him at his residence.

‘We thought that he wanted to arrange some cultural programme but he told us that Modiji has sent some people from Gujarat especially to meet us as he wants Zamin to be his proposer along with the grandson of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya,’ Haider told PTI.

‘We told him that we will take a decision after consulting family members. He then gave us a day’s time. We politely told him that we cannot be Modiji’s proposer as neither Bismillah was involved with any political party nor do we wish to. Bismillah used to say that you can talk to me for hours about music but keep me away from politics,’ he said. When contacted, the Varanasi Mayor said he shares a warm relationship with the Shehnai maestro’s family but denied that he had approached the family members for standing as Modi’s supporter.

However, he added that the Ustad’s family often visits his house as they share a cordial relationship.