Varanasi | January 15, 2026

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing redevelopment work at the historic Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, accusing the government of destroying centuries-old cultural and spiritual heritage in the name of renovation. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister was attempting to erase India’s historical legacy merely to “affix his own nameplate” on iconic sites.

In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Kharge claimed that bulldozers were being used under the guise of beautification and commercialisation to demolish ancient religious structures at the ghat, whose history dates back to the Gupta period and was later restored by Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. He alleged that small and large temples and shrines had already been razed earlier for corridor projects and warned that now even ancient ghats were being targeted.

Responding to the allegations, the district administration rejected claims of damage to heritage structures. District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar said that all artefacts had been secured by the culture department and would be reinstalled in their original form after completion of the redevelopment work. He stated that the project aims to improve sanitation and space management at Manikarnika Ghat, which witnesses a high number of cremations every day.

Protests against the redevelopment began on January 13 and were led by the Pal Samaj Samiti, with support from sections of the Marathi community and other local groups. Protesters alleged that a century-old idol of Ahilyabai Holkar and several consecrated statues were damaged during the demolition drive—claims strongly denied by the administration. Manikarnika Ghat, regarded as one of Hinduism’s most sacred cremation grounds and believed to grant moksha, holds immense religious and cultural importance. Critics, including Congress leaders, argue that any redevelopment should preserve its historical and spiritual identity, warning that altering it risks undermining the soul of one of the world’s oldest living cities.

“Heritage or Nameplate?” Kharge to PM Modi Over Manikarnika Ghat Redevelopment

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the redevelopment work at Varanasi’s historic Manikarnika Ghat, accusing the Centre of damaging centuries-old cultural and spiritual heritage in the name of beautification. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister was intent on erasing India’s historical legacy only to “affix his own nameplate” on iconic sites.

In a sharp post on social media, Kharge claimed that bulldozers were being used to demolish ancient temples, shrines and religious structures at the ghat, whose roots trace back to the Gupta period and were later restored by Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. He said that after corridors and other projects, even the country’s most sacred ghats were now being targeted, calling it an assault on India’s collective history and Sanatan culture.

The district administration, however, dismissed the allegations and clarified that no heritage was destroyed. District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar said all artefacts had been carefully secured by the culture department and would be reinstalled in their original form once the work is completed. He added that the redevelopment aims to improve sanitation, crowd management and space at Manikarnika Ghat, which sees a large number of cremations daily.

Meanwhile, protests against the redevelopment have continued since January 13, led by the Pal Samaj Samiti and supported by local groups. Protesters alleged damage to a century-old idol of Ahilyabai Holkar and other consecrated statues, claims denied by the administration. Manikarnika Ghat, one of Hinduism’s oldest and holiest cremation grounds believed to grant moksha, remains at the centre of a growing political and cultural debate over development versus preservation.