India, Jan. 16 -- The Congress on Friday condemned the demolition of temples and ghats in the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi), accusing the Modi led government at the Centre and the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh of destroying thousands-of-years-old religious and cultural heritage in the name of development and beautification.

Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai and the party's national media coordinator Abhay Dubey addressed a press conference at the party office and said that ancient temples were being demolished and historical ghats damaged in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rai dubbed the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor as a "mall", saying several ancient temples were demolished and the sacr...