Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday sought to reject the controversy in Varanasi and said that images of old and damaged idols were deliberately posted on social media to create confusion and chaos amid the redevelopment of the Manikarnika Ghat of the holy city.

Congress spreading fake propaganda: Yogi Adityanath

Addressing a press conference, the CM said that the Congress is spreading propaganda and is an attempt to mislead by creating AI videos. Sanatan religious sentiments are being violated, he added further.

"The propaganda being spread by the Congress party is an attempt to mislead by creating AI videos. Sanatan religious sentiments are being violated. Everyone knows that the temples in Manikarnika will be part of the conservation project because the ghats will be built after this, so all those temples will be protected by it,” he said

Responding to Congress's criticism, CM Yogi added, "There are two ghats in Kashi, Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghat, where people wish to bid a respectful farewell to their loved ones. When development work begins for this purpose, and not with government funds, the Congress is trying to malign even this development." He added, "The state government is committed to maintaining continuity and dignity for the safe completion of religious rites."

‘Government was fully committed to ensuring proper facilities’

The CM further said that the government was fully committed to ensuring proper facilities, security, and a dignified farewell for those attending funerals, and added that the ashes should not be discharged into the Ganges during or after cremation. "This increases both the BOD and COD levels of the Ganges. This has been addressed, and this development work is being undertaken to ensure that the Dom community, which performs funerals, is respected,” the CM added.

Underscoring the government's emphasis on maintaining the Ganges' water level, he said, " Cremation platforms are being constructed with the Ganges' water level in mind. Arrangements are also being made for waiting rooms, wood storage, toilets, ramps, drainage, and waste management.”

Referring to the development of Kashi, CM Yogi further said, "It is our good fortune that Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents Kashi in the country's Parliament. From the beginning, he has said that Kashi should be presented to the country and the world in a new form while preserving its ancient form. Accordingly, plans for Kashi have been initiated in the last 11-11.5 years."

Projects worth more than Rs 55,000 crores approved for Kashi: UP CM

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Talking about thousands of crores of rupees for PM Modi's parliamentary constituency, CM Yogi further said that projects worth more than Rs 55,000 crores were approved for Kashi, of which projects worth Rs 36,000 crores have been inaugurated and the remaining projects are progressing at a rapid pace.

Earlier on Friday, the Congress alleged that the government was "completely destroying" Varanasi’s heritage. The party further demanded that the ongoing work at Manikarnika Ghat be immediately stopped.