Manikarnika Ghat Redevelopment Row: Congress Issues 7-Day Ultimatum Over Heritage Concerns

The controversy surrounding the redevelopment work at Manikarnika Ghat has intensified after the Congress party issued a seven-day ultimatum to the district administration, demanding a halt to any action that may affect religious and historical heritage at the site.

The issue gained attention after videos circulated on social media showing Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar’s statue and other artistic elements lying amid debris during demolition work carried out as part of the Manikarnika–Scindia Ghat corridor project. The matter was later taken cognisance of by both the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), which directed the administration to ensure that redevelopment proceeds along with proper conservation of heritage structures.

Responding to the allegations, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar stated that no heritage had been damaged and that all statues and artefacts were safely removed and placed under protection at the Culture Department premises. He added that the statues, including that of Ahilyabai Holkar, would be reinstalled with due respect after the completion of redevelopment work.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders and workers gathered in Varanasi and submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate, urging immediate intervention. Raghvendra Chaubey, President of the Varanasi Metropolitan Congress Committee, said the party is not opposed to development but insists that it should not come at the cost of history and faith.

The administration, however, maintains that the project aims to improve facilities for pilgrims and tourists while preserving the spiritual and historical significance of the ghats. Officials have reiterated that all work is being carried out as per prescribed norms and under expert supervision.

As the deadline set by the Congress approaches, the focus remains on whether dialogue between the administration and stakeholders can defuse the situation, ensuring that redevelopment and heritage conservation move forward together in one of Hinduism’s most sacred landscapes.