Overview
- Videos of bulldozers at the Varanasi cremation site set off protests and claims that old structures and an Ahilyabai Holkar statue were damaged, which the district administration denies.
- Varanasi District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar says artefacts were secured by the Uttar Pradesh culture department and will return to their original locations after construction.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accuses Congress of spreading false propaganda using AI-generated clips and photos of broken idols brought from elsewhere, warning of action against misinformation.
- The redevelopment, estimated at Rs 17.56 crore and launched with a foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023, seeks wider pathways, improved cremation platforms, ramps, wood storage and better sanitation.
- Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ajay Rai demand an immediate halt and consultations with Kashi’s religious leaders, as Holkar trust representatives and local groups continue to contest the administration’s claims.