Arvind Kejriwal hits out at opposition for seeking rollback of Chhath Puja ban in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Politics over banning of Chhath Puja celebrations in public places in the capital is heating up. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday hit out at the opposition over demands for permitting Chhath Puja in public places and said that the opposition is doing dirty politics over the issue.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari announced in a press conference that he will start ‘Chhath Yatra’ from Sonia Vihar in his North East Delhi constituency from Saturday to mobilize people from Purvanchali community who celebrate the festival, and urged all political parties to join him in demanding the revoking of the ban on the festival.
Leader of opposition in Delhi assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has written a letter to Kejriwal urging him to prepare a proposal and submit it to the DDMA for permitting Chhath Puja celebrations in public places.
CM Kejriwal, who interacted with media persons during a public programme in central Delhi, said people will understand that the opposition is doing dirty politics over the issue.
“We want people to celebrate all the festivals. During Chhath puja devotees are required to wade into water. If one Covid infected person gets into water, the entire water will get infected. It could lead to fast spread of coronavirus. Keeping the health of the people in mind we have taken this step (banning of the Chhath puja in public places),” Kejriwal said.
Chhath will be celebrated over four days, from November 8 to 11.
Manoj Tiwari said that even AAP MLAs want Chhath to be celebrated at public places but Kejriwal has supported a ban on the festival. “Chhath is associated with the sentiments of Purvanchali people and all political parties should demand revoking the ban,” Tiwari said.
Bidhuri, whose Badarpur assembly constituency has a sizable number of Purvanchali communities, said the government can impose strict conditions but it must lift the ban. “
Chhath is just one month away. The government should give permission immediately so that the cleaning of riverbeds, ponds, etc. can be started for celebrating the festival. This year the Covid situation is under control and it would be safe to allow celebration of Chhath festival in public places,” Bidhuri stated.