Uproar After 600-Year-Old Memorial Demolished for Proposed Airport

The Kota administration suspended three officials after Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat flagged the demolition of a 600-year-old memorial of ruler Rao Surajmal for a proposed airport. A three-member committee is investigating. Local communities and the Bundi royal family expressed outrage, planning demonstrations and rejecting alternative land offers.

The Kota administration has suspended three officials following Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's attention to the demolition of a 600-year-old memorial of ruler Rao Surajmal for a proposed airport, according to an order issued on Sunday.

A three-member committee has been established to investigate the situation and submit a report.

The demolition has sparked anger among local communities and the Bundi royal family, leading to calls for a demonstration on Monday.

Shekhawat took to X to express his dismay, saying, "The demolition of the chhatri of Bundi Naresh Rao Surajmal Hada is a sad and distressing incident. Did KDA commit this act despite knowing the historical importance of the chhatri? Investigation and adequate action is necessary in this regard." He added, "It is the moral responsibility of the system operators to keep public sentiment supreme."

The memorial, built in honor of Rao Surajmal, the 9th ruler of the erstwhile Bundi state, was demolished by the Kota Development Authority (KDA) on Saturday. Local MLA Harimohan Sharma, along with members of the Bundi royal family and Rajput community, condemned the action during a visit to the site on Sunday. Kota Collector Ravindra Goswami spoke to them, mentioning that alternative land had been allotted for rebuilding the statue.

However, the Rajput community and local villagers have rejected the arrangement, demanding the proposed airport be named after Rao Surajmal and his statue installed at its entrance.

The KDA has suspended the officials involved in the demolition for "hurting public sentiments" and "negligence." Further, a three-member probe committee has been constituted to report on the matter.

MLA Sharma confirmed that land along the national highway had been allotted for reconstruction, while Vanshvardhan Singh urged the safe extraction of rubble to preserve any significant inscriptions or articles that may lie beneath.