'Will Chase Hema Malini Out Of Brij...': Women Lead Protest Over Bankey Bihari Corridor

News18

09-07-2025

Last Updated:
"This time, we will drive Hema Malini out of Brij," women protesters chanted on Monday, July 7, while lighting lamps near the Sheetla Mata temple at the Vidyapeeth intersection
What began as a protest against the proposed Bankey Bihari corridor in Vrindavan has now morphed into a full-blown revolt against local BJP MP and veteran actress Hema Malini. For over 40 days, residents, priests, and especially women from the Goswami community have been demonstrating daily against the development project, which they fear threatens the sacred and cultural fabric of Brijbhoomi. But the protests took a sharper political turn after a controversial video surfaced, allegedly showing Hema Malini saying, 'We will build the corridor and those opposing, we may have to ask them to leave and go elsewhere."
This reported remark triggered an outrage in Mathura and Vrindavan, with furious locals demanding her resignation and expulsion from the region. 'This time, we will drive Hema Malini out of Brij," women protesters chanted on Monday, July 7, while lighting lamps near the Sheetla Mata temple at the Vidyapeeth intersection. 'We are Brijvasis and will stay in Braj. Hema Malini is from outside and she has no right to stay in Braj," said Archana Goswami, a leading voice in the movement, speaking to Local18.
The Bankey Bihari corridor project is intended to streamline pilgrim movement and improve infrastructure, but locals argue it will displace long-established communities and erode the area's spiritual heritage. Anger has been simmering for weeks, but it reached a boiling point after Hema Malini's purported statement went viral.
In her remarks, the actress-turned-politician reportedly said, 'Those who do not want to live in Vrindavan can leave from here." The fallout was immediate and widespread. Women of the Goswami community, who have been camping out in protest for over a month, escalated their agitation, declaring they would not allow construction of the corridor 'even if our dead bodies have to be lifted".
Another priest, Rasik Bihari Goswami, lamented that the MP 'never came to speak to those who are affected by the plan… but so arrogantly asked us to leave." He accused the government of working in the interest of 'affluent people", while ignoring the voices of the original inhabitants.
Local businessman Anil Gautam also expressed disappointment over what he called a betrayal of trust. 'We elected her thrice from Mathura and Vrindavan with the hope that she would work for the benefit of people of the city, and now she is asking us to leave," PTI quoted him as saying.
The outrage even found voice within the BJP. Madhu Sharma, former district president of the party, publicly rebuked the MP, saying, 'We don't expect this kind of statement from our Member of Parliament… The one who has come from outside has to leave. We are Brijwasi. We were born here and will die here."
In response to the growing uproar, Hema Malini told PTI that the viral video is being misused and was recorded 'before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections". She alleged that the clip is being 'deliberately spread among the masses to create differences". She further clarified that the corridor would only be constructed after an order from the Supreme Court, and assured that the interests of all stakeholders will be preserved.
'Mathura is my karmabhoomi," she said, adding that she came to serve Lord Krishna and considers 'Brijwasi a part of my family". Hema Malini maintained that all of her development projects have been designed to benefit locals.
But on the ground, those reassurances have done little to cool tempers. The protesters, particularly women, remain adamant. 'We were born here and we will die here," said one woman defiantly, adding that they would not let the Bankey Bihari corridor be built.
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First Published:
July 09, 2025, 13:05 IST
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