Lagatar24 Desk
Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived in Varanasi on Saturday, offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and addressed the controversy surrounding the Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment, urging people not to spread misinformation about idols being broken.
Temple Visits and Development Review
After reaching Varanasi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed rituals at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and later visited the Kal Bhairav Temple to offer prayers. His visit came amid growing unrest over parts of Manikarnika Ghat being demolished as part of an ongoing redevelopment project. Addressing the media at the Circuit House, Yogi said that since 2014, Kashi has witnessed continuous development. He highlighted that the ghats are the identity of Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham can now accommodate nearly 50,000 devotees at a time, new hospitals have been established, and fresh employment opportunities have opened up for the youth.
Rebuttal of Allegations Over Manikarnika Ghat
Responding to the controversy, Yogi Adityanath accused certain groups of deliberately trying to malign Kashi. He said similar conspiracies were attempted when the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project began. He categorically denied claims of idols being broken, stating that images of damaged idols were being circulated on social media to create confusion. Calling such claims “a blatant lie,” he asserted that Kashi is eternal and holds deep reverence for every Indian, though it was denied its due importance in independent India for decades.
Protests, Political Reactions and Clarifications
The redevelopment work at Manikarnika Ghat has triggered anger, particularly among members of the Pal community, who alleged that the statue of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar was damaged, terming it an insult to their heritage. Protests followed, with slogans raised against the administration, and police later dispersing the crowd. Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, also accused the government of damaging centuries-old idols in the name of development. As the dispute intensified, the Varanasi mayor and BJP legislators visited the site and clarified that no temple was demolished, the idols have been preserved, and will be reinstalled after the construction work is completed. The Kashi Vidvat Parishad also appealed to people not to spread rumours.
Background of the Controversy
Two days earlier, the administration had demolished a platform at Manikarnika Ghat using bulldozers as part of the redevelopment project. Videos allegedly showing damaged idols of deities and Ahilyabai Holkar went viral, drawing large crowds to the site. Heavy police deployment followed to control the situation and restore order.
