4 months ago
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath connected Saturday (January 17, 2026) accused the Congress of spreading “false propaganda” to defame Kashi and obstruct its broad improvement done lies and misinformation. He was responding to allegations regarding the demolition of temples astatine Manikarnika Ghat successful Varanasi.
Addressing a property league successful Varanasi, Mr. Adityanath said images of aged and damaged idols were being posted connected societal media to deliberately make a antagonistic communicative amid the redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat.
“Conspiracies are being hatched to obstruct the broad improvement projects undertaken implicit the past 11 years, and misinformation is being spread. It was indispensable for maine to travel present contiguous truthful that the close facts could beryllium placed earlier the public. When the Kashi Vishwanath Dham was being constructed, immoderate radical had hatched conspiracies adjacent then. Broken remnants of idols were brought from workshops wherever statues are made and circulated connected societal media to dispersed achromatic lies that temples were being demolished,” helium said.
Hitting retired astatine the Congress, Mr. Adityanath said that Varanasi had been neglected aft Independence. “After Independence, Kashi did not person the respect it deserved, nor the improvement it should person witnessed. Over the past 11 years, Kashi has erstwhile again begun preserving and promoting its spiritual and taste practice portion besides achieving caller heights done carnal and infrastructural development. Every follower of Sanatan Dharma and each Indian holds heavy reverence for Kashi,” the Chief Minister said.
Touching upon the translation of Varanasi implicit the past decade, helium said, “Before the operation of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, an mean of 5,000-25,000 pilgrims visited the shrine daily. After the corridor, this fig has risen to 1.25 to 1.5 lakh devotees per day. On peculiar occasions, footfall increases to six to 10 lakh. Last twelvemonth alone, much than 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath Dham. Kashi by itself has contributed ₹1.3 lakh crore to the country’s GDP”.
Mr. Adityanath praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for emphasising the request to sphere Kashi’s past quality portion presenting it to the satellite successful a renewed and modern form.
The Chief Minister further attacked the Congress for ever disrespecting practice and creating obstacles successful improvement works. “Whether it is the operation of the Ram Temple astatine Shri Ram Janmabhoomi successful Ayodhya aft 500 years oregon improvement works successful Prayagraj, Kashi, Ayodhya, Vindhyavasini Dham, Buddhist pilgrimage sites, oregon different practice locations crossed India, each beautification and conservation works are being carried retired smoothly nether the enactment of Prime Minister Modi,” helium said.
