Watch: Playing For Rahul Gandhi Not Endorsement - Bismillah Khan's Family to NDTV
After the relatives of legendary musician Bismillah Khan played the shehnai, welcoming Rahul Gandhi to Varanasi, they said unequivocally that the performance is not an endorsement of the Congress.
"If Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal had asked us, we would have played for them too," Afaque Haider, the grandson of Ustaad Bismillah Khan, told NDTV, adding, "our music is not for sale."
Mr Gandhi campaigned today in the Ustaad's hometown for Congress candidate Ajay Rai. But Varanasi, one of the last contests in the mammoth Indian election, is being seen largely as a face-off between Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, and Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party.
Muslims form nearly 15% of the population of the world's oldest living city, and the Congress is aware that Mr Kejriwal could split the anti-BJP vote. Mr Gandhi's road-show today was routed through many Muslim-dominated parts of Varanasi in an attempt to secure the minority vote.
A few weeks ago, Ustaad Bismillah Khan's son, Zamin Husain Bismillah, had refused an offer to be one of the proposers for Mr Modi when he officially entered the election in Varanasi and filed his nomination papers as his party's candidate. Zamin Husain had then asserted that the family had historically not taken political sides in any election - "We are just musicians."
Today, a portrait of the icon provided the backdrop as the family played Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan or hymn - "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram".
When asked why some of their relatives wore Congress scarves, Afaque said, "We were lost in our music. People came and draped them around. We welcome Rahul to Banaras but will never take political sides. Khan saheb taught us music is beyond politics."
The speculation that followed their performance reflects how the national election has divided even cultural icons in India's holiest city, now its most-high profile battleground.
After Bismillah Khan's family turned down the BJP, classical singer Pandit Channulal Mishra agreed to propose Mr Modi's name when he filed his nomination on April 24.
Leaders of many political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, have been seen at Bismillah Khan's grave at Lallapura in the election season. His family, however, says the Bharat Ratna musician is remembered only during elections.
"If Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal had asked us, we would have played for them too," Afaque Haider, the grandson of Ustaad Bismillah Khan, told NDTV, adding, "our music is not for sale."
Mr Gandhi campaigned today in the Ustaad's hometown for Congress candidate Ajay Rai. But Varanasi, one of the last contests in the mammoth Indian election, is being seen largely as a face-off between Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, and Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party.
Muslims form nearly 15% of the population of the world's oldest living city, and the Congress is aware that Mr Kejriwal could split the anti-BJP vote. Mr Gandhi's road-show today was routed through many Muslim-dominated parts of Varanasi in an attempt to secure the minority vote.
A few weeks ago, Ustaad Bismillah Khan's son, Zamin Husain Bismillah, had refused an offer to be one of the proposers for Mr Modi when he officially entered the election in Varanasi and filed his nomination papers as his party's candidate. Zamin Husain had then asserted that the family had historically not taken political sides in any election - "We are just musicians."
Today, a portrait of the icon provided the backdrop as the family played Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan or hymn - "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram".
When asked why some of their relatives wore Congress scarves, Afaque said, "We were lost in our music. People came and draped them around. We welcome Rahul to Banaras but will never take political sides. Khan saheb taught us music is beyond politics."
The speculation that followed their performance reflects how the national election has divided even cultural icons in India's holiest city, now its most-high profile battleground.
After Bismillah Khan's family turned down the BJP, classical singer Pandit Channulal Mishra agreed to propose Mr Modi's name when he filed his nomination on April 24.
Leaders of many political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, have been seen at Bismillah Khan's grave at Lallapura in the election season. His family, however, says the Bharat Ratna musician is remembered only during elections.
