U.P. CM Adityanath accuses Congress of spreading ‘false propaganda’ on Kashi redevelopment

The statement by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath regarding Kashi's redevelopment and his accusation against the Congress party for spreading 'false propaganda' encapsulates a significant ongoing narrative in Indian politics: the intersection of cultural heritage, urban development, and electoral strategy. Kashi, or Varanasi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus. It is home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, making it a pivotal pilgrimage site.

**Background Context and What Happened:**

For decades, Varanasi, despite its spiritual grandeur, faced challenges of congestion, unplanned growth, dilapidated infrastructure, and poor sanitation, particularly around its core temple area and the ghats of the Ganga. The current phase of redevelopment gained significant momentum after 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, representing the Varanasi constituency. The most prominent project, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham (Kashi Vishwanath Corridor), was conceived to provide direct access from the Ganga ghats to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, offer modern amenities for pilgrims, and decongest the surrounding areas. The project involved acquiring and demolishing hundreds of buildings, rehabilitating residents, and creating a vast open space with facilities like a pilgrim facilitation centre, museum, spiritual library, and food court. This ambitious project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in December 2021. The Chief Minister's claim of "unprecedented spiritual, cultural and infrastructural transformation over the past 11 years" broadly covers the period of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre (since 2014) and the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh (since 2017).

**Key Stakeholders Involved:**

* **Central Government:** Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has been the primary driver and financier of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and related infrastructure projects, reflecting a strong political commitment to developing Varanasi as a 'Smart City' and a global spiritual hub. The Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Tourism have played crucial roles.

* **Uttar Pradesh Government:** Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government has been instrumental in the on-ground execution, land acquisition, and coordination with various agencies. It is also the public face of the development efforts at the state level.

* **Local Administration (Varanasi Smart City Ltd.):** Responsible for the micro-level planning and implementation of projects under the Smart Cities Mission and other schemes.

* **Pilgrims and Tourists:** The primary beneficiaries of improved infrastructure and amenities, whose increased footfall is cited as a measure of success.

* **Local Residents and Businesses:** Directly affected by land acquisition, demolition, and subsequent economic changes. While many have benefited from increased tourism, some may have faced displacement or disruption of traditional livelihoods.

* **Opposition Parties (e.g., Congress):** They act as critics, questioning the scale, cost, environmental impact, or cultural sensitivity of such projects, often accusing the ruling party of prioritizing specific religious agendas over broader development or genuine heritage preservation. The CM's accusation highlights this political contestation of narratives.

**Why This Matters for India:**

This issue holds significant multi-faceted importance for India. **Economically**, the redevelopment of Kashi is a major boost to religious tourism, a sector with immense potential. Increased pilgrim footfall translates into greater revenue for local businesses, hospitality, transport, and handicrafts, contributing to the state and national economy. **Culturally and Spiritually**, it represents a concerted effort to restore and enhance one of India's most revered heritage sites, reinforcing national identity and soft power. The emphasis on spiritual transformation aligns with a broader governmental policy of promoting India's ancient heritage. **Politically**, Kashi's transformation serves as a powerful electoral narrative for the ruling BJP, showcasing its commitment to development, cultural revival, and effective governance, especially given PM Modi's association with the constituency. The accusation of 'false propaganda' indicates the highly charged political environment where development claims are often contested for electoral advantage. It also highlights the 'double engine' government narrative, where coordinated efforts between the Centre and the State are projected as a recipe for rapid development.

**Historical Context and Future Implications:**

Historically, Varanasi has seen various phases of construction, destruction, and reconstruction, often intertwined with political power. The current scale of planned intervention, however, is unprecedented in its scope and ambition. Similar projects, like the Mahakal Lok corridor in Ujjain, are now being replicated, indicating a model for heritage city development. The future implications include continued focus on developing religious circuits and heritage tourism across India. This will likely lead to further debates on balancing modernization with heritage preservation, environmental sustainability (especially concerning riverfront development), and the impact on local communities. The challenge will be to sustain the infrastructure, manage increased tourist influx, and ensure equitable benefits for all stakeholders while maintaining the spiritual sanctity and historical integrity of such ancient sites.

**Related Constitutional Articles, Acts, or Policies:**

While there isn't a single direct article dictating such redevelopment, several constitutional provisions and government policies are relevant:

* **Article 25 and 26:** These articles guarantee freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, and the freedom to manage religious affairs. While the state is building infrastructure, it facilitates the exercise of these rights by pilgrims.

* **Article 49 (Directive Principles of State Policy):** Mandates the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be. This guides the state's responsibility towards heritage sites.

* **Smart Cities Mission (2015):** Varanasi is one of the cities selected under this flagship scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which aims to promote sustainable and inclusive cities by providing core infrastructure and a decent quality of life.

* **HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) (2015):** A scheme by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs focused on holistic development of heritage cities to preserve and revitalize their unique character.

* **PRASAD Scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) (2014-15):** Ministry of Tourism's scheme for identifying and developing pilgrimage sites to provide a complete religious tourism experience.