Varanasi,

17 Jan (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hit back at opposition parties

for their statements regarding the ongoing reconstruction and restoration work

at the Manikarnika Ghat in the religious city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The

Chief Minister, who visited Varanasi on Saturday, directly targeted the

Congress party in this matter, saying that efforts are being made to mislead

the Sanatani community by raising controversial issues related to monasteries

and temples. The Congress party has consistently insulted India's faith.

The

Chief Minister was speaking to reporters at the Circuit House here. Regarding

the allegations and viral video of the vandalism of the statue of Maharani

Ahilyabai Holkar at Manikarnika Ghat, he said that there was a conspiracy to

defame Kashi. Some people are hindering Kashi's development. He said that the

conditions in Kashi before 2014 are no secret. Forget about drinking the Ganga

water, the ghats in Kashi were not even fit for bathing. Today, these ghats are

attracting people from across the country. The Chief Minister also said that a

conspiracy was hatched when the Kashi Vishwanath Dham was being constructed.

The

broken idols were brought together and made viral through social media. He said

that the temples at Manikarnika Ghat were old and dilapidated, and now they are

being renovated. The Chief Minister explained that the idol from the Annapurna

Temple was taken to Europe 100 years ago. It was due to the efforts of Prime

Minister Narendra Modi that the idol was brought back. No one had attempted

this before. The country has made various statements about Lord Ram and

Krishna, and this is no secret. He said that Ahilyabai Holkar was the first to

attempt to restore the Baba Vishwanath Temple, which was destroyed by the

Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Congress party never respected her, but Prime

Minister Narendra Modi honored Ahilyabai Holkar. Without naming Congress

leaders, the Chief Minister sarcastically said that some people have been

misleading the public by spreading false images for the past three to four

days. These are the people who did not promote this heritage in their time.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi