Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, expressed profound sorrow and strong disapproval on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Her concern stems from the recent partial demolition of the ancestral home of Padma Shri awardee and Olympian hockey legend, Mohammed Shahid, in Uttar Pradesh, carried out as part of a road development project.
Ms. Mufti highlighted the poignant contrast between legal principles and ground realities, stating, “While Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B.R. Gavai emphasizes that India should be governed by the rule of law, not by the rule of the bulldozer, a truly heartbreaking video has emerged from Varanasi.” She described the distressing scene: “The elderly father of Padma Shri awardee and Olympian Mohammed Shahid was seen standing before a demolition squad, hands folded, his voice trembling as he pleaded for just one more day to save his family home. Yet, his pleas went unheard. If this isn’t an example of ‘bulldozer justice,’ then what is it?”
The video, capturing Mr. Shahid’s father’s desperate appeal to officials for additional time before the demolition, quickly went viral across social media platforms. This emotional footage has ignited widespread outrage and prompted sharp reactions from various sections of society, underscoring significant public concern over the incident.