Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has dismissed claims that the ongoing redevelopment of Varanasi’s iconic Manikarnika Ghat has led to the destruction of idols and heritage structures. Addressing the media, Adityanath said images of broken or old idols circulating on social media were being deliberately shared to create confusion and unrest, echoing similar tactics seen during the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project. He accused the Congress of spreading “false propaganda” and warned the public against AI-generated videos aimed at inflaming sentiments.
Adityanath clarified that all artefacts found during excavation are being preserved and will be reinstalled once construction is complete. He emphasised that redevelopment aims to improve facilities, particularly for monsoon months, ensuring that cremations can be conducted with dignity.
Social media posts show bulldozers and alleged damaged idols and heritage structures, leading to accusations of destruction during the redevelopment.
He denies the claims, stating that images of broken idols are being shared to create confusion and that the government will not tolerate anyone maligning India's heritage.
All excavated artifacts are being preserved and will be reinstalled once the construction is finished.
The redevelopment aims to improve facilities, especially for the monsoon months, to ensure cremations can be conducted with dignity.
