Varanasi, Jan 17 (NationPress) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday condemned the Congress party for allegedly “propagating false narratives” regarding the supposed demolition of temples in Varanasi. He emphasized that these misleading assertions should be brought to light for the public.

While addressing journalists after paying homage at Baba Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the Chief Minister noted that similar misinformation campaigns were launched during the development of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

He accused individuals of disseminating remnants of broken idols from idol-making workshops on social media with the intent to falsely assert that temples were being demolished.

“In the past couple of days, videos alleging the destruction of temples in Kashi and at Manikarnika Ghat have circulated widely. I am here today to clarify the truth and to counter the conspiracies and disinformation aimed at undermining the extensive development efforts undertaken here over the last 11 years,” CM Yogi stated.

Disputing the legitimacy of these videos, he suggested that AI-generated materials were being utilized to mislead the public and hinder ongoing development initiatives in Dalmandi, Varanasi. “It is well-known that the temples at Manikarnika Ghat remain exactly where they have always been,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister highlighted that every adherent of Sanatan Dharma and every Indian holds Kashi in profound respect; however, the city had not received the dignity or development it warranted for decades post-Independence.

“In the last 11 years, Kashi has advanced by maintaining its spiritual and cultural legacy while also achieving significant material growth,” he added.

Pointing to the effects of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, he noted that daily visitors to the shrine increased from 5,000-25,000 before the corridor’s completion to 1.25-1.5 lakh visitors per day afterward. “Last year, over 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath Dham. Since the corridor's construction, Kashi has contributed ₹1.3 lakh crore to the nation’s GDP,” he stated.

Directly addressing Congress, CM Yogi remarked that the party had propagated blatant untruths during the corridor's development by alleging the destruction of temples. “These temples were never demolished. They were in poor condition previously and have now been restored and preserved,” he clarified.

He also reminisced about the return of the Goddess Annapurna idol, which was stolen a century ago and taken to Europe. “Thanks to the Prime Minister’s efforts, the idol was restored and reinstalled at Kashi Vishwanath,” he noted.

Accusing Congress of undermining India’s heritage, CM Yogi stated, “A party that has repeatedly disrespected India’s faith through appeasement politics can never honor its cultural legacy.”

Referring to significant religious initiatives, he mentioned that the construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya after 500 years is a matter of national pride. “Whether it is Kashi, Ayodhya, Maa Vindhyavasini Dham, Prayagraj, or Buddhist pilgrimage sites, heritage preservation and beautification are advancing successfully under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.”