Manikarnika Ghat Row: Pawan Khera Slams CM Yogi

Varanasi, January 19, 2026: The political war of words over the Manikarnika Ghat controversy escalated on Monday as Pawan Khera, Chairman of the AICC Media and Publicity Department, launched a sharp attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The controversy centers on videos showing the allegedly broken statue of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, which CM Yogi had claimed were AI-generated. Responding to this, Khera delivered a pointed retort, dubbing the claim “shamelessness” rather than AI manipulation.

Khera’s Statement: "The Chief Minister said this video is AI. But Chief Minister ji, this is not AI, this is 'Behayaai' (shamelessness)," Khera stated during a press briefing.

Khera also criticized the administration for filing FIRs against individuals who raised the issue, arguing that the government is attempting to shoot the messenger rather than address the actual destruction of the statue. He accused the authorities of using technical excuses to cover up the incident instead of taking responsibility for the damage.

The remarks are likely to intensify the political debate surrounding the Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment project and the handling of heritage sites in Varanasi. The row has already drawn widespread attention, both for its political implications and for the growing discourse around AI-generated misinformation in public controversies.

Authorities have yet to respond to Khera’s comments, but the FIRs remain active as investigations continue.