Chhath Puja enveloped in pollution, political haze
With the Chhath Puja celebrations just a few days away, the Yamuna in Delhi continues to be heavily polluted with foam spread on the surface, raising concerns over the festivities.
Meanwhile, the political landscape is heating up as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP clash over the organisation of the event at Satpula Park in Chirag Delhi, aiming to attract voters from Purvanchal and Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections.
AAP has accused the BJP of halting the construction of the Chhath Ghat through the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and locking the park’s gates. In response, AAP workers staged a dharna in protest, supported by Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who joined the sit-in late last evening.
Chief Minister Atishi condemned the BJP’s actions, stating, “Stopping the work of Chhath Ghat is a condemnable act and an insult to the faith of Purvanchalis. This exposes the anti-Purvanchal face of the BJP.” AAP MP Sanjay Singh added, “BJP only pretends to be pro-Hindu. In reality, it is an anti-poor, anti-Dalit, and anti-Purvanchal party.”
Obstructing the festival
On the orders of the BJP, the Delhi Police has turned Chhath Puja ghat into a cantonment. The Delhi government has been conducting the puja here for the last eight years, and now, under BJP’s influence, they are obstructing it. —Saurabh Bharadwaj, Delhi Minister
Condition of yamuna poor
Chhath Puja is one of the most important festivals of India, but in Delhi, the condition of the Yamuna is so poor that you cannot offer prayers in it. We are taking up a resolution to make the water of the Yamuna clean again. — Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi BJP president
On Sunday morning, Bharadwaj criticised the Delhi Police for their heavy presence around the Chhath Puja site, saying, “On the orders of the BJP, the Delhi Police has turned Chhath Puja into a cantonment. They have no jurisdiction to stop this celebration. The Delhi government has been conducting the puja here for the last eight years, and now, under BJP’s influence, they are obstructing it.”
In a counter move, Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj visited Satpula Park on Sunday to initiate Chhath Puja arrangements, asserting that Bharadwaj represents “political deceit and hypocrisy.” She accused him of misusing his ministerial position for self-promotion and questioned the AAP’s commitment to cleaning the Yamuna, demanding, “Why has there been no progress on the promised Aarti and cleaning initiatives?”
Swaraj also expressed concern over the alleged violent action taken by Bharadwaj against the Jan Seva Samiti and BJP workers at the park, declaring that such behaviour had never been witnessed earlier.
Earlier, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva visited the Chhath Ghat at ITO to inspect the river conditions and preparations, stating, “Chhath Puja is one of the most important festivals of India, but in Delhi, the condition of the Yamuna is so poor that you cannot offer prayers in it. We are taking a resolution to make the water of the Yamuna clean again.”
As the countdown to Chhath Puja continues, both parties remain locked in a contentious battle, each vying for the support of the electorate while the festival preparations hang in the balance.
Political slugfest
AAP has accused BJP of halting the construction of the Chhath Ghat through the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and locking the park’s gates. In response, AAP workers staged a dharna in protest.
