Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath speaks during a review meeting on ongoing development works and law-and-order situation, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on January 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday (January 17, 2026) accused the Congress of spreading “false propaganda” to defame Kashi and obstruct its comprehensive development through lies and misinformation. He was responding to allegations regarding the demolition of temples at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.
Addressing a press conference in Varanasi, Mr. Adityanath said images of old and damaged idols were being posted on social media to deliberately create a negative narrative amid the redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat.
“Conspiracies are being hatched to obstruct the comprehensive development projects undertaken over the last 11 years, and misinformation is being spread. It was necessary for me to come here today so that the correct facts could be placed before the public. When the Kashi Vishwanath Dham was being constructed, some people had hatched conspiracies even then. Broken remnants of idols were brought from workshops where statues are made and circulated on social media to spread white lies that temples were being demolished,” he said.
Hitting out at the Congress, Mr. Adityanath said that Varanasi had been neglected after Independence. “After Independence, Kashi did not receive the respect it deserved, nor the development it should have witnessed. Over the past 11 years, Kashi has once again begun preserving and promoting its spiritual and cultural heritage while also achieving new heights through physical and infrastructural development. Every follower of Sanatan Dharma and every Indian holds deep reverence for Kashi,” the Chief Minister said.
Touching upon the transformation of Varanasi over the last decade, he said, “Before the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, an average of 5,000-25,000 pilgrims visited the shrine daily. After the corridor, this number has risen to 1.25 to 1.5 lakh devotees per day. On special occasions, footfall increases to six to ten lakh. Last year alone, more 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 need to preserve Kashi’s ancient character while presenting it to the world in a renewed and modern form.
The Chief Minister further attacked the Congress for always disrespecting heritage and creating obstacles in development works. “Whether it is the construction of the Ram Temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya after 500 years or development works in Prayagraj, Kashi, Ayodhya, Vindhyavasini Dham, Buddhist pilgrimage sites, or other heritage locations across India, all beautification and conservation works are being carried out smoothly under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
Published – January 17, 2026 11:04 pm IST
