Akhilesh slams Yogi over Ahilyabai’s broken idol

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday slammed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the alleged damage to an idol of Ahilyabai Holkar, a visionary queen of the erstwhile Maratha kingdom, and other heritage structures during a redevelopment drive at Varanasi’s Manikarnika Ghat.

“The chief minister got the idol of Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar’s idol broken,” Yadav told reporters after a programme here, adding that members of the Sanatan and the Pal communities were “very angry” with the chief minister over the issue.

The SP chief further claimed that around “a hundred temples” had been demolished in Varanasi and that a bell donated by the King of Nepal had gone missing. The SP chief’s remarks come after a controversy surrounding a redevelopment drive at the historic Manikarnika Ghat last month, which triggered protests by locals and members of Pal Samaj Samiti, who claimed that heritage sites were being damaged in the name of redevelopment, a charge rejected by the district administration. Manikarnika Ghat is among the oldest and most sacred cremation grounds in Hinduism. It is widely believed that those cremated there achieve ‘moksha’ or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The district administration has denied the allegations of destruction, maintaining that no temple was demolished or damaged. District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar had earlier said some idols and artefacts found during excavation have been preserved and would be reinstalled once the construction work is completed.

The redevelopment project at Manikarnika Ghat includes modernising the site with new amenities, including a wood plaza, VIP seating and flood-resistant cremation facilities. While officials insist the project aims to improve the sacred area, the use of heavy machinery and bulldozers last month sparked protests and led to claims that ancient structures and small temples were damaged.

Responding to the chief minister’s remarks about an alleged lathi-charge on a seer during the previous Samajwadi Party Government, Yadav said the incident occurred due to “adverse circumstances and the actions of the BJP” at that time. He added that Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati was not a Shankaracharya then, adding that the party had later apologised to the seer.

Yadav also accused the current Government of not allowing the Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip in the Ganga during Magh Mela in Prayagraj. He claimed the seer’s chariot was pushed and the chief minister had “insulted” him at the Triveni Sangam.

The SP chief said followers of Sanatan traditions and the PDA (Backward Classes, Dalits and Minorities) would use their vote to “teach the BJP a lesson”.

Replying to another query, Yadav alleged that cases against the chief minister predated the Samajwadi Party Government. He claimed that his party had once “saved” Adityanath, describing the move as a mistake.

He further accused the chief minister of promoting conflict and hatred, stating that the Shankaracharya had criticised the chief minister’s language in a democratic forum.

Yadav, in a statement, alleged that Uttar Pradesh had become a “hub of crime and wrongdoing” under BJP rule. He claimed that the state had moved “from honouring saints to insulting them.”

Congress leaders, workers clash with police during march to gherao UP Assembly (Eds: Adding details, quotes, colour) Lucknow, Feb 17 (PTI) Congress leaders and workers clashed with police on Tuesday as they tried to march to the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha during the budget session to protest against issues such as replacing of the rural employment scheme MGNREGA and misgovernance.

The clash led to several detentions and alleged lathicharge.

Soon after the Assembly proceedings began in the morning, a large number of Congress workers, led by senior leaders, began marching from party headquarters towards the Vidhan Bhavan nearby as part of an “MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan”.

However, they were stopped midway by a heavy deployment of police and Rapid Action Force personnel, and multiple layers of barricading erected along the route.

As the protesters attempted to push forward, raising slogans accusing the Government of “hiding behind the police out of fear”, security personnel moved in to disperse the crowd.

Congress workers tried to scale the barricades and, in some places, senior leaders, including state unit president Ajay Rai, were seen standing atop barricades amid the jostling.

Police sources said several protesting leaders and workers were taken into custody and shifted to Eco Garden.

Manish Hindvi, vice-chairman of UP Congress’ media department, told PTI that police and the RAF used force when workers tried to proceed towards the Assembly.

Many protesters were seen carrying the tricolour and Congress party flags and posters bearing Mahatma Gandhi’s image. They held banners supporting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and opposing the new legislation that has replaced it.

The Congress rally saw the participation of several women workers. One of them, Maitri, said the party was determined to gherao the Assembly and register its protest.

Hindvi said the leaders who took part in the protest march included Congress national general secretary and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande, state unit president Ajay Rai, MP Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra and MLA Virendra Chaudhary.

He alleged that Congress MP from Barabanki, Tanuj Punia, was placed under house arrest before he could leave to join the protest. Leaders from Rae Bareli, Amethi and other districts were prevented from travelling to Lucknow, he said.

Speaking to PTI Videos during the protest, Ajay Rai accused the Government of “thana shahi” (police high-handedness) and alleged that workers under the MGNREGA scheme were not being paid their wages.

He also raised issues, including farmers not getting remunerative prices for their produce and unemployment among youths.

Referring to the shifting of idols during reconstruction work around the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Rai alleged that some idols were damaged. He accused the BJP Government of disrespecting historical and religious figures.

“We will continue to oppose such actions,” he said.

Avinash Pande alleged that the police action amounted to “murder of democracy”.

“Our attempt was to democratically apprise the Government of issues related to MGNREGA, farmers not getting prices for their crops, unpaid wages and unemployment. The way peaceful protesters are being lathi-charged, dragged and their clothes torn is condemnable. Our agitation will intensify,” he said.

Aradhana Mishra alleged that despite marching peacefully, the protesters were stopped forcibly and several workers sustained injuries in the police action.

Kishori Lal Sharma described the police action as part of a “repressive policy” and said the party only wanted to stage a peaceful demonstration.

The Budget Session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature is currently underway. Officials said the police administration has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the Congress’ plan to gherao the Vidhan Bhavan.

Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat --” Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 in December 2025, replacing the MGNREGA brought in by the Congress-led UPA Government.

The VB-G RAM G Act guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually, up from 100 days under the previous scheme.

Reacting to the protest, BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said that by opposing the new scheme, the Congress has revealed its “anti-farmer character”.

“Congress leaders have either not read the details of this scheme or they are deliberately hatching a conspiracy against farmers,” he said, outlining what he described as the benefits of VB-G RAM G over MGNREGA.