Manikarnika Ghat demolition sparks backlash across Madhya Pradesh:Khasgi Trust demands probe and restoration, protests erupt; Patwari calls it ‘attack’ on Ahilyabai’s legacy

The Khasgi Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities Trust has strongly condemned the demolition of a section of the historic Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh calling the action deeply disrespectful to India’s cultural and spiritual heritage and to the legacy of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. In a formal statement, the Trust said it was ‘shocked and outraged’ by the demolition of the ghat, which was first restored by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar in 1791 and held special significance for her. Among hundreds of sites she built or restored across the country, Manikarnika Ghat was one of the rare locations where she had installed effigies in her own image, depicting her worshipping the sacred river Ganga. Jitu Patwari slams BJP, calls it attack on Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jitu Patwari has strongly criticised the BJP over the demolition of a section of the historic Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, calling it a direct assault on the legacy of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. In a post on social media platform X, Patwari said that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency of Kashi, the BJP government had demolished a heritage structure built by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar in 1771. He alleged that a government which seeks votes in the name of culture and Sanatan traditions is now erasing temples and heritage sites associated with Ahilyabai Holkar. Congress staged protest at Gandhi Statue in Indore Meanwhile, the Congress party staged a protest against the demolition. Former minister Sajjan Singh Verma staged a sit-in protest from 5 pm to 6 pm on Wednesday at the Ahilyabai Holkar statue site at Rajwada, Indore, against the alleged demolition of Ahilya Ghat, the statue of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, and associated temple structures in Varanasi. Demolition carried out without prior notice According to the Trust, the demolition was carried out on January 10, allegedly on instructions from municipal authorities, without prior notice or warning, and the structure was razed within hours. The Trust said the action showed complete disregard for the ghat’s historical, religious, and cultural importance . The Khasgi Trust, along with the Holkar royal family of Indore, has said the sacred effigies of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar now lie buried in debris. The Trust has initiated steps to recover the damaged idols and is preparing legal action against the agencies responsible, asserting its role as the principal custodian of Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy and of Manikarnika Ghat . Questions over heritage law violations Experts have raised serious concerns over possible violations of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, which provides strict legal protection to historic monuments. The Act empowers the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to regulate activities around heritage sites, including enforcing a 100-metre prohibited zone and a 200-metre regulated zone to prevent unauthorised construction or demolition. Amendments introduced in 2010 further tightened restrictions on any activity near protected monuments. Legal and heritage experts argue that any intervention at a site like Manikarnika Ghat should have followed a clearly defined process involving ASI permissions and heritage impact assessments. Historians flag cultural loss Historians point out that Manikarnika Ghat houses at least 21 temples, dharamshalas, annakshetras, and bathing ghats, many of which were built or restored under Devi Ahilyabai Holkar’s supervision. Ansari added that while the government has issued commemorative coins and memoirs to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the demolition sends a contradictory message. Protests and anger in Indore The demolition has sparked anger in Indore, where members of the Dhangar, Pal, Baghel, and other communities have announced a meeting on January 15 to chalk out protest strategies. Community representatives said the action is particularly painful as it comes during the concluding phase of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar’s 300th birth anniversary celebrations, calling it an insult to her memory and contributions. As demands grow for accountability and restoration, the Manikarnika Ghat demolition has reignited a broader debate over heritage protection versus development, and whether India’s most sacred sites are being altered without due regard for history, law, and faith.