'Honour religious sentiments of people, lift ban on Chhath Puja'

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta's assertion comes after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday instructed officials to ensure that Chhath Puja this year is not performed at public places, river banks and temples in Delhi in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Delhi: Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta on Friday asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to honour the religious sentiments of people and lift the ban imposed on performing Chhath Puja at public places and river banks.

Gupta's assertion comes after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday instructed officials to ensure that Chhath Puja this year is not performed at public places, river banks and temples in Delhi in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Delhi government banned Chhath to cover up its failures in making preparations for it, Gupta charged and questioned how would people living in small houses celebrate the festival.

"The Kejriwal government should immediately lift the ban on Chhath Puja (at public places) honouring the religious sentiments of people and issue an order for it," he said at a press conference.

No reaction was immediately available from the Aam Aadmi Party on the issue.

Gupta said 1,068 ghats are registered by Delhi government where Chhath Puja is held but it did not make any preparations for the festival and imposed a ban on it all of a sudden.

"People worship Sun God at river ghats, ponds and other water bodies on Chhath festival. How will people who live in small rented accommodations celebrate the festival," he questioned.

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Delhi BJP general secretary Dinesh Pratap Singh asserted that his party will not allow any injustice with Purvanchalis and demanded that the government allow the celebration of Chhath Puja by issuing guidelines.

He said BJP leaders will meet Lt Governor Anil Baijal over the issue if needed.

The Chhath Puja is celebrated in Delhi in a big way by the natives of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The two-day festival, falling on November 20-21 this year, involves worship of the Sun God at a water body like a river, pond or a tank.

PTI