Responding to the notice sent by the Varanasi Police in the Manikarnika Ghat case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh remarked that Kashi belongs to Baba Vishwanath, not to any government.
He alleged that ancient Shiva Lingams, historical artifacts, and the statue of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar were damaged at Manikarnika Ghat in the name of construction, which he called a direct attack on Sanatan Dharma.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Sanjay Singh clarified that the videos and facts shared from his ‘X’ handle are based on the statements of people present at the site and direct evidence. He said demolishing historically protected structures at Manikarnika Ghat, considered the land of salvation, cannot be called development under any circumstances.
He questioned why no action was taken against those who carried out the demolition, while FIRs were registered against those who brought the truth to light. Sanjay Singh said if showing the truth is a crime, then he will commit this “crime” again and again. In this context, he alleged that the mentality of invaders has returned today under the protection of the government.
The AAP termed this FIR an attack on the freedom of expression and religious faith and demanded that an impartial judicial inquiry be conducted into the demolition at Manikarnika Ghat, that FIRs be immediately registered against the culprits, that the damaged religious structures be reconstructed, and that the case registered against Sanjay Singh be immediately withdrawn.