After Yusuf Pathan Land Row, Vadodara Group Seeks Plot for Modi-Heeraba Museum

A controversy over land allotment to former cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan in Vadodara has taken a new turn, with the Cricket Hit Rakshak Samiti seeking government land to build a museum dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraba, alongside a sports and inspiration centre for children.

The committee has submitted a representation to the Vadodara Collector, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the state Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, seeking a suitable plot in a central location in the city.

The demand comes amid criticism of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s decision to allot land reportedly valued at around ₹20 crore to Pathan for ₹5 crore. The decision has triggered questions from the Opposition, while other demands for land allotments to sportspersons have also emerged.

Committee Seeks Central Plot for Museum

In its representation, the Cricket Hit Rakshak Samiti called for a museum showcasing the life and journey of Narendra Modi and the values it says were shaped by his late mother, Heeraba.

The committee said Modi had given India a new identity on the global stage and argued that the values of sacrifice, dedication and service associated with his life could inspire citizens, particularly young people.

It also referred to Modi’s emotional connection with Vadodara, stating that a museum dedicated to his journey and his mother’s life could become a source of inspiration for residents and visitors.

Sports Centre for Children Also Proposed

Alongside the museum, the committee has proposed a dedicated space where children can participate in sports and physical activities.

It argued that children are increasingly moving away from outdoor games in the digital age and need accessible facilities to encourage physical development.

According to the proposal, the museum could promote patriotism, moral values and inspiration, while the sports centre would encourage fitness and outdoor activity.

The committee has urged the government departments concerned to consider allocating suitable land in a central part of Vadodara and take action at the earliest.

Yusuf Pathan Land Allotment Triggers Political Debate

The demand comes against the backdrop of a dispute over the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s decision to allot land to Yusuf Pathan, a former India cricketer who represents Baharampur in the Lok Sabha.

The land is reportedly valued at around ₹20 crore, while the allotment was made for ₹5 crore. The decision has drawn criticism from the Opposition, which has questioned the terms of the deal.

The controversy has also prompted demands for land allotments to other sportspersons on similar terms.

The committee’s proposal for a Modi-Heeraba museum and children’s sports centre has added another dimension to the debate over government land allocation in Vadodara. Whether the authorities will consider the request remains to be seen.