The spiritual capital of India, Varanasi, recently became the epicenter of a heated controversy where ancient traditions clashed with modern digital misinformation. A storm of public outcry was triggered by the circulation of sensational visuals on social media, which allegedly showed bulldozers demolishing structures at the Manikarnika Ghat—one of the most sacred cremation grounds in Hinduism.

However, the narrative took a sharp turn when the Uttar Pradesh government intervened, labeling the visuals as "fake" and "AI-generated." Following a swift crackdown, the Varanasi Police booked eight individuals on Saturday, January 17, for their role in creating and disseminating these misleading photos and videos. The content, which went viral, had sparked widespread confusion and deep concern among the public regarding the sanctity of the ghat.

CM Yogi Adityanath: A "Conspiracy" to Defame Kashi

The gravity of the situation prompted immediate intervention from the highest level of the state administration. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the media in Varanasi, categorically dismissing the viral content as fabricated. He suggested that there was a malicious intent behind the campaign.

During his visit to the city, the Chief Minister strongly criticised the spread of this fake content. He pointed fingers at the political opposition, specifically noting that the Congress party had used AI-generated videos to disrupt the ongoing development work in the Dalmandi area. He further asserted that there was a deliberate conspiracy to defame Kashi and mislead people.

Highlighting the government's track record, CM Yogi also said that the importance of Kashi Vishwanath Dham has enhanced remarkably since 2014, and the number of devotees coming to the city has also increased substantially. He assured the public that Kashi is being developed without compromising the heritage of the place.

The Viral Deception: AI Images and Social Discord

According to police reports and government sources, the controversy began on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The disruption started when a user identified as Ashutosh Potnis (handle @daksinapathpati) posted photographs at 10:02 PM on Friday, January 16. These images were manipulated to show Hindu gods and goddesses in compromising or damaged states, allegedly linked to the beautification process at the ghat.

Officials stated that these posts were not merely sharing information but were designed to provoke. The posts attempted to falsely portray the ongoing development work as an attack on religious traditions. In a particularly inflammatory move, some posts tried to link the Government of India with Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, further fuelling anger and misunderstanding among people.

The intent appeared to be the unbalancing of social harmony by offending religious sentiments. Following the swift response from the UP Government, the X user @daksinapathpati deactivated their account.

Legal Action: Eight Booked Under BNS

The Varanasi police took decisive action to curb the spread of this misinformation. FIRs were registered at the Chowk police station against eight individuals and the associated X handles. These cases, filed on Saturday, January 17, invoked strictly relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically Sections 196, 298, 299, and 353.

Police explained that these sections relate to spreading false information, hurting religious sentiments, creating social unrest and misleading the public. Officials confirmed that eight separate cases have been registered so far in connection with the viral posts related to Manikarnika Ghat.

The legal proceedings were initiated following a formal complaint by an office-bearer of GVS Engineers Consultant, the company responsible for the installation and development work at the site. In his official complaint, the representative noted that his company has been working at the site since 15th November, 2025.

He reported that he came across a number of social media posts propagating completely false and baseless claims relating to the project. He emphasized the real-world impact of these digital rumors, stating that these posts, he asserted, were damaging the company’s reputation and causing unnecessary tension among locals and devotees.

Political Warfare: The Opposition’s Outcry and Government’s Rebuttal

The controversy stems from a specific video that circulated online, purportedly showing a bulldozer demolishing a ‘madhi’ (a raised platform) and a statue or artwork of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar.

On Thursday, before the AI clarification surfaced, a unified opposition condemned the alleged demolition. Prominent leaders including Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, National General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Congress State President Ajay Rai, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to X to sharply criticize the government for what they perceived as insensitivity toward heritage.

Initially, the administration admitted to an error, stating that the statue of Ahilyabai and other artworks had been carefully preserved after consultation with a representative of the Holkar family, promising their reinstallation post-redevelopment. They attempted to close the chapter there. However, by Friday, the narrative shifted as the BJP and the government launched a counterattack, asserting the video was misleading and created using artificial intelligence.

State Minister of Stamps and Registration, Ravindra Jaiswal, defended the government's position vigorously. He stated that the BJP is continuously giving a new dimension to development in Varanasi. He claimed moral high ground regarding religious preservation, asserting that no party other than the BJP has shown respect for Sanatan traditions, and that it was the BJP that began celebrating the birth anniversary of Ahilyabai.

Minister Jaiswal clarified that after the construction of the grand Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, a magnificent statue of Ahilyabai was installed solely by the BJP. He dismissed the vandalism claims, stating that AI technology was used to falsely portray vandalism and damage to artworks at Manikarnika Ghat, whereas no such incident actually occurred at the site.

Speaking to journalists at the Circuit House, the Minister explained the logistical reality: during the redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat, the artworks were removed and safely stored at the Culture Department’s premises in Gurudham. He assured the public that after completion of the redevelopment, the madhi will be reconstructed and all artworks will be reinstalled in their original form and arrangement. He added that the redevelopment would benefit local residents the most and provide relief from pollution.

Regarding the project specifics, Jaiswal mentioned that 38 platforms for cremation will be constructed along with chimneys. He promised that the ghat, reflecting the art and culture of Kashi, will appear grand and modern. He lashed out at the opposition, alleging that the opposition is presenting the issue in a misleading manner, and said these are the same people who spread rumors during the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

Community Anger and Administrative Assurance

Despite government assurances, certain community groups expressed deep distress. Bhaiyalal Pal, patron of the Pal Vikas Samiti, stated that members of the Pal community are deeply angered by the damage caused to the statue of Ahilyabai as well as the ancient idols of Mahadev and Lord Ganesha during the redevelopment of the Mahashmashan. Speaking at a press conference at the Rahi Tourist Bungalow in Sarnath on Friday, he alleged that the damage to the idols was the result of administrative negligence.

In response to the growing unrest, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar took to X to calm the situation. He wrote that Manikarnika Ghat has, since ancient times, been a place where large numbers of people come to perform last rites. He explained that keeping in mind the convenience, safety, and orderly arrangements for devotees, reconstruction and strengthening work of the ghat is currently underway. This work includes beautification of the old steps and unfinished sections of the ghat.

The District Magistrate clarified that all temples located at the ghat will be fully protected. He admitted that a madhi and certain artworks located on the walls within the reconstruction zone were affected during the work. However, he insisted that misleading and baseless claims related to this are being spread on social media, which have no connection with reality.

He reiterated the factual position: all artworks and statues present at the ghat have been duly preserved by the Culture Department and kept in a secure location. He promised that after completion of the reconstruction work, they will be reinstalled in their original form. He appealed to the public not to pay attention to misleading information and to rely only on official sources.

Congress Protests: "Destruction of Faith"

The Congress party escalated their protest, viewing the incident not as development but as cultural erasure. They staged a demonstration at the district headquarters and submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate.

Metropolitan Congress President Raghavendra Chaubey stated that this is not development, but a systematic destruction of faith, history, and culture in Varanasi. He drew parallels to previous projects, alleging that earlier, in the name of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, more than hundreds of temples and historic religious sites were demolished, and symbols associated with the freedom struggle were removed. He claimed that currently, idols of deities, temples, and religious symbols are being damaged in the Mahashmashan Manikarnika Ghat area.

Chaubey posed a fundamental question to the administration: whether Kashi’s identity lies only in new construction, or whether its soul, culture, and religious heritage also deserve protection.

The Congress delegation, which included District President Rajeshwar Singh Patel and other senior leaders, demanded the immediate formation of a joint delegation, including Congress representatives, to bring the truth to light. They vowed that the Congress would fight at every level to protect Kashi’s cultural heritage and religious faith.

Clarifications from Officials and Experts

Urban Development Minister A.K. Sharma supported the project, stating that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the grandeur and spiritual magnificence of Kashi have been given a new direction through several development initiatives. He listed the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Namo Ghat as examples, noting that in the same sequence, reconstruction work has now been initiated at Manikarnika Ghat.

Minister of State Ravindra Jaiswal offered a technical defense regarding the statue controversy. He reasoned that had the statue been removed before drilling or dismantled thereafter, there would have been no issue. He accused the opposition of being experts at misleading the public by using artificial intelligence. He also highlighted a practical issue, stating that visitors to the Vishwanath Temple are troubled by smoke generated during cremations.

Local representatives also visited the site to inspect the ground reality. On Friday, Mayor Ashok Tiwari and Varanasi South MLA Dr. Neelkanth Tiwari, accompanied by Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal, toured the ghat. Dr. Neelkanth Tiwari clarified a crucial detail regarding the sanctity of the statues. He stated that all the madhi (platforms) along the ghat have statues installed, but none of them have undergone pran pratishtha (ritual consecration).

Addressing the viral video directly, Dr. Tiwari said that the video of a damaged madhi and artwork circulating on social media does not show deliberate demolition. Instead, he explained that both the platform and the artwork were automatically damaged due to vibrations caused by drilling work underway along the ghat.

Mayor Ashok Tiwari offered an open door to the opposition, stating that if the opposition has noticed any shortcomings, they should point them out individually, and the administration is willing to listen. He assured the public that the statue would be reinstalled first on the very day the renovation is completed. He also corrected rumors regarding the contractor, clarifying that the redevelopment work at the ghat is being carried out not by a company from Gujarat, but by Kolkata-based Rupa Foundation.

Meanwhile, Gaurav Dwivedi, President of the Manikarnika Ghat Tirth Trust, emphasized that the sanctity of the pilgrimage site must be maintained. He proposed a radical solution for the congestion, suggesting that cremation grounds have also been shifted in Indore and that the site at Manikarnika be relocated away from residential areas, proposing its transfer to Adikeshav Ghat.

Religious Leaders Intervene

The Shri Kashi Vidwat Parishad, a council of scholars, held an online meeting with the administration. They asserted their role as guardians of tradition, stating that if required, it should be consulted for scriptural inspection before implementing any scheme related to Kashi’s heritage.

Jitendranand, General Secretary of the Saints’ Committee, provided a geographical clarification. He said that after detailed deliberation, the saints concluded that the alleged incident did not take place at Manikarnika Ghat. He clarified that the area where cremations occur is Jalasen Ghat. He emphasized that the renovation of a pilgrimage site should be carried out strictly in accordance with scriptural procedures.

Conversely, Congress President Ajay Rai remained firm, accusing the BJP of destroying Varanasi’s heritage and demanded that the work underway at the ghat be stopped immediately. He insisted that no further action should be taken without consulting the religious leaders of the area.

Understanding the Project

The redevelopment of Manikarnika Ghat is a significant infrastructure undertaking. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project on July 7, 2023. The project is substantial, with an estimated cost of ₹175.6 million. As clarified by the Mayor, the redevelopment is being executed by the Kolkata-based company Rupa Foundation.

The modernised ghat is designed to improve the experience for the bereaved while respecting the site's holiness. After renovation, the ghat will have rooftop seating arrangements for VIPs, ramps for persons with disabilities, and a wood plaza for the purchase of firewood used in cremations.

Technical planning has accounted for environmental factors; the design has been planned keeping the highest flood levels in mind. Crucially, heritage preservation is part of the blueprint. Heritage sites such as Chakrapushkarini Kund, Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple, Tarkeshwar Temple, and Dattatreya Paduka will also be restored.

Security and sanitation are also being upgraded. CCTV cameras will be installed across the entire area. The project details explicitly state that it includes the construction of 32 cremation platforms, a pollution-free chimney system, two community toilets, green zones, waiting areas, and a body registration room.