Manoj Tiwari to defy order if Chhath puja ban not lifted in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Politics is heating up over

Delhi Disaster Management Authority

’s order to ban Chhath Puja celebrations in public places for the second consecutive year, especially because all other festivals have been permitted and almost all economic activities have been permitted due to the improved Covid-19 pandemic situation.

The

North East Delhi

MP Manoj Tiwari has warned of protests if the ban is not lifted and stated that the order will be defied if permission is not given to hold the festival in public places like riverbeds.

Tiwari called people associated with various Chhath puja organising committees from different parts of the capital to his residence on Friday for a meeting to discuss the issue. After the meeting Tiwari and the people associated with the Chhath puja organising committees demanded that the ban on Chhath Puja must be revoked and people should be allowed to celebrate Chhath with strict Covid protocols.

“When liquor shops, theatres, weekly markets have been allowed to open and all other economic activities have been permitted, then why Chhath puja which is associated with the faith of lakhs of people has been banned in public,” Tiwari said.

Tiwari, who is former Delhi BJP chief, demanded that the ban on Chhath puja should be immediately revoked. Though the DDMA, which is headed by Centre appointed lieutenant governor and Delhi chief minister is a member, has imposed the ban, Tiwari also attacked CM Arvind Kejriwal over it.

“The AAP government should submit a proposal to the DDMA demanding that the ban be lifted and Chhath puja be allowed to be celebrated in public places,” said Tiwari.

Chhathh is a major festival in Delhi and is popular particularly among people belonging to Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It will be celebrated over four days, from November 8 to 11. Last year Chhathh and all other festivals were banned due to Covid situation. As compared to last year the current Covid situation is under greater control and people were hopeful that public celebrations of the Chhath will be permitted.

Ajit Dubey

, president of

Bhojpuri Samaj

, a social and cultural organisation, people are ready to follow stricter Covid norms but the DDMA must allow Chhath puja celebration in public because since time immemorial it is being celebrated in public places.

Meanwhile, the DDMA on Thursday permitted religious places to open for visitors and devotees provided that they follow all Covid norms like masking and social distancing, regular hand washing and use of sanitisers. There were demands from various quarters including politicians for opening the religious places.

Schools for classes IX to XIII will continue to remain open for students with maximum of 50% seating capacity of classrooms.