Govt demolishing heritage of Hindus: Congress slams Manikarnika Ghat renovation

New Delhi: The Congress raised the issue of the contentious beautification drive at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, the sacred cremation ground of Hindus, for the second consecutive day on Friday and demanded that all renovation work there be immediately stopped. Any further action on renovation should be taken only after consulting with the religious heads, many of whom are protesting against the drive, said the main Opposition party.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajai Rai said at a party presser that the "Modi-Yogi government is demolishing the heritage of Hindus". He said that the renovation drive carried out in Varanasi by the BJP government as part of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project had affected many temples and that even the sacred Vat Vriksh had been cut down.

"Narendra Modiji had laid the foundation stone in 2023 for the beautification of Manikarnika Ghat but he has completely destroyed the ghat in the name of beautification," Rai said.


The Congress leader also said that the historic Dalmandi, a landmark wholesale market in Varanasi, "is also being similarly destroyed" in the name of beautification. Rai said the Congress will stand by the protestors, who are demanding that the renovation works affecting the heritage of Varanasi be immediately stopped.