Kota : Kota Development Authority demolished the 500-year-old statue and chhatri of former king Surajmal Hada for the airport in the Bundi district limits. The controversy that started after this is not taking the name of stopping. The Rajput community has warned to reach in hundreds on October 8 and build chhatri themselves. Meanwhile, the team of UNESCO, an organization formed for the conservation and heritage importance of historical buildings across the world, reached Bundi.
‘This happened for the first time in India’
The team took the matter of demolition of the chhatri seriously. The UNESCO team conducted a survey and found out the historical and architectural importance of the chhatri. The team members expressed concern over the demolition of the chhatri and said that demolishing any 500-year-old heritage is a crime. There are also instructions from the Supreme Court of the country in this regard. Soon the UNESCO team will present the facts strongly. This has been seen for the first time in India, when a 500-year-old chhatri and statue have been demolished, whereas India is known for its cultural heritage and Taragarh and palaces.
Rajput society gave 15 days ultimatum
As soon as the team from UNESCO reached to visit the chhatri, the protesting Rajput community also reached the team in large numbers to inform them about the incident. During this, Shakti Singh Bandikui, Krishna Vardhan Singh, Banthli, Sarpanch Shyam Singh Rajawat, Chain Singh Hada, Mahipal Singh Risanda, flag bearer of Yuva Shakti Sanyojan, tried to make the villagers aware of the history of Rao Surajmal, religious importance of the chhatri, architectural style and social sentiment. The team was made aware of the facts. Bundi Karni Sena President Mahipal Singh told the team that there is anger in the Rajput community. Breaking the chhatri was wrong. Now the administration is again making a mistake by building the chhatri at another place. We have given an ultimatum to the officials. On October 8, the Rajput community will gather at the chhatri site. The chhatri will be built there. Also, the airport should also be named after Rao Surajmal. We have given a 15-day ultimatum to the administration. After this the community will do its work.
KDA administration is ready to build it at another place
After the continuous protests by the Rajput community, the Kota Development Authority came on the back foot. The administration hurriedly talked to the Panchayat and allotted land for building the statue and chhatri at a new place and assured to build the statue and chhatri soon. Before the announcement of the new chhatri, the administration had discussed with the members of the former royal family of Kota and Bundi. A meeting was held with the Sarpanch and enlightened villagers and their suggestions were taken. At the same time, the officer of the protesting Rajput community says that the administration is now talking about building the statue at a new place to save itself. But the Rajput community demands that the statue will be built at the same place where the statue was broken, because Rao Surajmal sacrificed his life there. The administration will have to revise the map of the airport and the statue will be built there.
