Arabic version: حكومة الهند تأمر بالاستيلاء على نادي دلهي جيمخانا النخبوي

India’s government has ordered the Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of the country’s most exclusive private clubs, to vacate its premises in two weeks. This directive underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing campaign against entrenched elite institutions.

According to The Guardian, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs directed the club to hand over its sprawling site by June 5, citing urgent public interest requirements, including defense and security infrastructure.

Founded under British colonial rule in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club, the institution has long been synonymous with the rich and famous, evolving from its colonial roots into a significant networking hub for politicians, senior bureaucrats, and business figures after independence in 1947.

The ministry’s letter indicated that the land, adjacent to the Prime Minister’s residence, was “critically required for strengthening and securing of defense infrastructure and other vital public security purposes.” This move reflects a broader political shift since Modi took office in 2014, positioning himself as a challenger to traditional elites, particularly those associated with the opposition Congress party led by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club, known for its long waiting lists and elite reputation, has also been dogged by internal disputes and allegations of financial mismanagement in recent years. Figures linked to Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have repeatedly accused its leadership of factionalism and poor governance.