Manikarnika Ghat Demolition Sparks Outrage; Khargone Residents Condemn "Insult to Ahilyabai"

• Widespread public outrage erupted after a part of Varanasi's 255-year-old Manikarnika Ghat, built by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar in 1791, was demolished for redevelopment.
• Protesters allege that statues of Ahilyabai Holkar, a Shivling, and other historical idols were damaged during the demolition, sparking significant anger.
• The protest has spread beyond Varanasi to Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, where Ahilyabai Holkar's descendant, Richard Shivaji Rao Holkar, condemned the action and wrote to the UP government.
• Residents of Khargone emphasize that Manikarnika Ghat is an invaluable national heritage connected to millions' faith and traditions, not just a stone structure.
• Critics argue that demolishing historical heritage in the name of development is wrong, especially during Ahilyabai's 300th birth anniversary celebrations.

Why It Matters: Demolition at Varanasi's historic Manikarnika Ghat, built by Ahilyabai Holkar, has caused widespread outrage.