Fresh Protests Erupt at Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat Over Alleged Damage to Ahilyabai Holkar Statue
Fresh protests erupted at Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat on Monday, leading to the detention of at least 18 individuals. The demonstrators, primarily from the Pal community, voiced strong opposition to the alleged damage inflicted upon a statue of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. This incident occurred during a recent beautification drive at the historic site.
Protesters Demand Restoration of the Idol
The protesters gathered with a clear demand: the immediate restoration of the revered idol. They attempted to submit a formal memorandum outlining their concerns to district administration officials present at the ghat. However, the situation quickly escalated.
Mahendra Pal Pintu, the national president of a Pal community organization, described the police response. "The protesters had gone to the Manikarnika Ghat to submit a memorandum to a district administration official present there for the restoration of the statue. However, police resorted to force," he stated. Pintu also noted that many participants hailed from Prayagraj and neighboring areas of Bihar.
Police and Administration Respond to the Unrest
Assistant Superintendent of Police for Varanasi, Atul Anjaan Tripathi, provided the police perspective on the events. He confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered at that time. "Police tried to pacify and convince the protesters who had assembled at the ghat. But the situation escalated," Tripathi explained, detailing the efforts to manage the gathering.
Root Cause: Damage During Renovation Work
The controversy stems from renovation activities at Manikarnika Ghat last Tuesday. Reports indicate that the mani, a platform featuring carved idols on its walls, sustained damage during the work. This resulted in harm to the inscribed idols as part of the beautification exercise.
Angered by this development, a group led by Mahendra Pal Pintu demanded specific action. They called for the installation of a statue honoring Ahilyabai Holkar at the same location. Holkar is celebrated for her significant contributions to Varanasi and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The protesters argued that if removal was necessary for renovation, authorities should have relocated the statue to a secure place beforehand.
Political Attention and Official Clarification
News of the alleged damage quickly captured political attention. Several political parties seized the opportunity to criticize the government over the handling of the matter.
In response, the district administration issued a clarification. Officials stated that the affected item was a kalakriti, an artwork carved into the walls of the mani platform, not a freestanding statue. They assured the public that the Department of Culture had safely secured the artwork. The plan is to reinstall it in its original form once the renovation project concludes.
The incident highlights the delicate balance between urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage in historic cities like Varanasi.
