Overview
- Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ajay Rai escalated criticism on Friday, alleging heritage destruction at Manikarnika Ghat and calling for an immediate halt and consultations with religious leaders.
- Varanasi district magistrate Satyendra Kumar said artefacts taken out during the redevelopment have been secured by the culture department and will be reinstalled, describing the project as focused on sanitation and space management.
- Local protests led by the Pal Samaj Samiti with support from sections of the Marathi community alleged damage to a century-old Ahilyabai Holkar idol and other consecrated idols, claims the administration denies.
- The Khasgi Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities Trust’s president Yeshwantrao Holkar said demolition occurred on 10 January without due notice and that effigies linked to Ahilyabai Holkar were left in debris.
- The Rs 17.56 crore plan, launched with a 2023 foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposes wider pathways, improved cremation platforms, ramps and a wood plaza at a ghat handling roughly 150–400 cremations daily, while Congress also flags rehabilitation concerns for Daal Mandi traders.