Senseless Manikarnika Demolition Hurts Millions of Hindus Under PM Modi & CM Yogi’s Hoodwink.

Manikarnika Ghat Demolition Sparks National Outrage; Trust, Communities and Parties Demand Probe, Accountability and Restoration.

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | New Delhi | Jan 15, 2026::  The demolition of a section of the historic Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi during ongoing redevelopment work has triggered widespread outrage across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, igniting a fierce debate over heritage preservation, legality, and the manner of urban renewal at India’s most sacred sites. The Khasgi Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities Trust, backed by members of the Holkar royal family of Indore, has demanded an immediate and independent probe, fixing of responsibility, and full restoration of the demolished structure, alleging serious violations of heritage protection laws.

In a strongly worded statement, the Trust said it was “shocked and outraged” by the demolition carried out on January 10, describing it as a grave insult to India’s cultural and spiritual heritage and to the legacy of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the revered Maratha queen who restored Manikarnika Ghat in 1791. According to the Trust, the demolition was undertaken without prior notice, consultation, or consent of the lawful custodians, and the structure was razed within hours on alleged instructions from municipal authorities.

Senseless Manikarnika Ghat demolition hurts millions of Hindus under PM Modi’s hoodwink. Modi rose to the office of Prime Minister as a Member of Parliament from Varanasi. And it’s a big question, what is doing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath?

Historic and Sacred Loss Alleged

The demolished portion is said to hold exceptional historical and religious significance. The Trust claims it was among the rare sites where effigies of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar—depicted worshipping the river Ganga—were installed during her lifetime. It has alleged that these sacred effigies and associated idols are now buried under debris. Efforts are reportedly underway to recover the damaged statues, while the Trust prepares legal action against the agencies involved, asserting its role as the principal custodian of the ghat and of Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy.

Heritage scholars and historians have echoed these concerns, pointing out that Manikarnika Ghat is not just a cremation ground but a layered civilisational space comprising at least 21 temples, dharamshalas, annakshetras, and bathing ghats—many built or restored under Ahilyabai Holkar’s supervision. They have also highlighted the irony of the demolition occurring during the concluding phase of the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Ahilyabai Holkar, even as commemorative coins and memoirs are being issued in her honour.

Legal Questions Over AMASR Act

Legal and heritage experts have raised red flags over possible violations of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. The Act mandates strict protection of historically significant monuments and restricts construction or demolition within a 100-metre prohibited zone and a 200-metre regulated zone. Amendments introduced in 2010 further strengthened these safeguards. Experts argue that any intervention at Manikarnika Ghat should have required prior clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and a detailed heritage impact assessment—procedures that were allegedly bypassed.

Protests and Community Anger

Public anger has spilled onto the streets, particularly in Indore and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Members of the Dhangar, Pal, Baghel and other communities have announced meetings and protest plans, calling the demolition deeply hurtful and unacceptable. In Varanasi, protests broke out at the site, led by Mahendra Pal Pintu, national president of the Pal Community and a state committee member of the Samajwadi Party. Protesters demanded that the statue of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar—described as nearly a century old—be reinstated at its original location.

Pal alleged that the statue was demolished without notice under the pretext of renovation and said that if removal was unavoidable, it should have been carefully relocated to a secure place. He added that a memorandum outlining these demands was submitted to officials who reached the spot during the protest. Community leaders stressed that Ahilyabai Holkar is regarded as a revered ancestor by the Pal (Gadariya) community, which observes her birth anniversary annually.

In the same senseless pattern, under the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor development project launched in 2019, hundreds of ancient Hindu temples and shrines were ruthlessly destroyed, deeply hurting Hindu sentiments.

Administration Orders Probe

Responding to the controversy, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Alok Kumar confirmed that during the renovation work, a structure containing a statue—claimed to be of Ahilyabai Holkar—was demolished. He said an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances of the demolition and to determine whose statue was housed in the structure.

Redevelopment Project Under Scrutiny

The redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat, where around 150 cremations take place daily, was recently launched with the stated objective of modernising facilities while addressing long-standing issues. The project includes revamping surrounding streets, creating an entrance plaza, improving visitor amenities, refurbishing cremation infrastructure, widening narrow funeral pathways, regulating wood storage, reducing smoke from open cremations, and preventing debris from being dumped into the Ganga. The work is being undertaken as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of a private company and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

However, critics argue that development cannot come at the cost of irreversible heritage loss, especially at sites of profound religious and historical importance.

Political Reactions Intensify

The controversy has also drawn sharp political reactions. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge strongly condemned what he termed an “unpardonable act of vandalism on Indian history, culture and Sanatan faith.” In a post on X, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge accused the government of running “bulldozers of tasteless beautification and commercialisation” over centuries-old heritage at Manikarnika Ghat. Kharge on Thursday sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, alleging that the exercise was aimed at erasing historical heritage only to “simply affix” the Prime Minister’s own nameplate.

Kharge questioned whether restoration and cleanliness could not have been achieved while preserving heritage, and asked why ancient idols allegedly damaged during demolition were not preserved in a museum. Drawing parallels with other redevelopment projects, he warned against erasing historical memory in the name of renovation and commercial interests, stressing that the ghats of Kashi are integral to the city’s identity and spiritual purpose.

A Broader Debate Rekindled

As demands for accountability grow louder, the Manikarnika Ghat episode has reignited a national debate on the balance between heritage preservation and urban redevelopment. At stake, critics say, is not just a structure or a statue, but the question of whether India’s most sacred and ancient spaces can be altered without due respect for history, law, faith, and community sentiment.
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_Agency Inputs.