Manikarnika Ghat Redevelopment:Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has firmly denied the allegations that the redevelopment work at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, which is currently going on, has caused the destruction of any temples or sacred places. He has accused the Congress party of lying and has also claimed that their main motive was to spoil the project’s image and that of Kashi’s cultural heritage, which is rich.
Manikarnika Ghat Redevelopment
At a press conference, which was attended by many journalists and photographers, the Chief Minister declared that the accusations regarding the destruction of temples were “completely false.”
He also made it clear that the videos and pictures that have been circulated on social media and have gone viral are either misleading, fabricated, or generated by AI. He reiterated that the redevelopment did not involve the demolition of any temple or idol and that all heritage artifacts were securely preserved.
What’s The Issue?
The whole issue began when videos showing bulldozers working around Manikarnika Ghat became widely viewed, and this led to the local groups and the political opposition accusing the government of destroying temple structures and sacred idols under the pretext of development and thus angry protests erupted from their side.
Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have alleged that the state government’s actions amount to a demolition of Hindu heritage, including structures linked to Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar. These claims have been widely circulated online and used in political statements across various platforms.
However, officials including the Varanasi District Magistrate and the city mayor have mentioned that only a platform (madhi) was removed, and no temple building was harmed. They confirmed that all idols found during work were carefully shifted and preserved by the archaeology department, with plans to reinstall them respectfully after completion of the redevelopment.
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CM Yogi’s Response
CM Yogi’s response was both forceful and pointed. He directly accused the Congress of orchestrating a misinformation campaign by circulating fake or AI-generated videos to mislead the public and obstruct development work. According to him, similar tactics were used previously during the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, when misleading photos of broken idols were shared to suggest wrongdoing.
“The claim of temple demolition is the biggest lie,” said the Chief Minister, adding that such narratives are designed to disturb social harmony and derail progress. “The opposition is spreading lies by circulating fake and misleading videos. Not a single temple has been demolished. Such attempts are aimed at misleading devotees and creating unnecessary fear,” the Chief Minister said. He warned that authorities are watching social media closely and strict action will be taken against those spreading falsehoods.
Political Back-and-Forth Intensifies
The state government has said that the redevelopment project is an initiative that respects the historical value of the location and also aims to enhance the existing facilities and safety measures that specifically apply to cremation rituals during the rainy season, while the opposition continues to be very vocal. Congress and other party leaders have been reiterating their demand for the state to provide clear evidence to disprove the allegations of damage to idols and temples.
Some Congress leaders, for instance, are daring the government to exhibit the maintained idols in public to eliminate the doubt, since they argue that the photos and videos circulating on social media are the real reflection of the locals’ concern about the cultural loss.
At the same time, the police in Uttar Pradesh have filed several FIRs against certain persons, among them are some politicians, who are supposedly responsible for the distribution of misleading or AI-modified images in connection with the works at Manikarnika Ghat. The police have pointed out that such a video was produced for the purpose of inciting emotions and disrupting the peace between the different communities.
Manikarnika Ghat Redevelopment: Complete Breakdown
On July 14, 2023 as reported by multiple outlets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the redevelopment of two cremation ghats in Varanasi. The ‘Raja Harishchandra Ghat’ and ‘Manikarnika Ghat’ two of the oldest ghats are being redeveloped as eco-friendly crematoriums by Edifice Consultants, backed with CSR support from the Rupa Foundation and JSW Foundation at a cost of Rs 18 crore and 16.86 crore, respectively.
The Manikarnika Ghat issue is still a subject of considerable debate regarding development and heritage preservation.
Highlighting the impact of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, CM Yogi said daily footfall at the shrine has increased sharply. Before the corridor, around 5,000 to 25,000 devotees visited the temple daily.
After redevelopment, this number has risen to 1.25 to 1.5 lakh per day, and during major occasions, it goes up to 6-10 lakh. He added that more than 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath Dham last year alone and Kashi has contributed around Rs 1.3 lakh crore to India’s GDP since the corridor’s construction.
This is how Manikarnika Ghat will look like after the redevelopment
PM Modi will do shilanyas in his upcoming Varanasi visit on Saturday
Project cost ~ ₹17 Cr pic.twitter.com/8CRoqgjnsS
— The Uttar Pradesh Index (@theupindex) July 6, 2023
The BJP government has claimed the redevelopment will bring about safety, sanitation, and facilities improvements for not only the pilgrims and residents but also the environment; however, the Congress party still raises concerns over the project’s transparency.
They want the government to present public evidence that all images and sacred objects are still in place and unharmed.
At the same time, officials from the local government as well as the locals present in Kashi have assured that the redeveloping process is going on under the supervision of experts, who will take care of theshere, history and religious practices. Many believe that this will help not only the locals vendors of Kashi but also will benefit the country in longer run.
