The political landscape in Delhi is heating up as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engages in a fierce exchange with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress over facilities for Chhath Puja.
The religious festival, which holds immense significance for the Purvanchali community, has become a focal point for all three parties as they seek to garner support ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for February.
Recently, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused a BJP corporator of demolishing a ghat designated for Chhath Puja, an act he claims has intensified tensions surrounding the festival.
He asserted that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has stated that ghats cannot be constructed, further igniting the political firestorm. Singh characterised the BJP as a party that is fundamentally opposed to the interests of people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He even recounted how he personally had to sit on a dharna in Greater Kailash to protest the destruction of a Chhath ghat by a BJP corporator.
The AAP government, according to Singh, has made significant strides in facilitating Chhath Puja celebrations over the last decade. He noted that the number of ghats available for the festival has increased tenfold, aimed at helping those from UP and Bihar who cannot return to their home states for the rituals. The party plans to communicate these achievements to the public as Arvind Kejriwal embarks on a padyatra, or foot march, across Delhi.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also voiced concerns regarding the BJP's actions, suggesting that they are deliberately obstructing efforts to improve facilities for Chhath devotees. He highlighted a specific instance where DDA officials blocked a path traditionally used by Dalit members of their community for the festival.
In the midst of this political clash, the Congress party has entered the fray, with Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav criticising the AAP government for its failure to clean the Yamuna River before the festival.
Yadav pointed out that without proper cleanup, lakhs of devotees will not be able to offer their prayers in clean water. He demanded that the AAP take meaningful steps to create dedicated Chhath ghats that are free of pollution.
The BJP’s Delhi President, Virendra Sachdeva, echoed these sentiments, noting the presence of toxic foam in the Yamuna as a stark example of the AAP government's negligence toward the needs of Purvanchali residents.
He accused the government of allowing the Yamuna to remain polluted, claiming that it reflects deep-seated corruption within the AAP. Sachdeva pointed to the central government's allocation of ₹8,500 crore for the Yamuna cleanup, suggesting that the AAP mismanaged these funds.
Sanjay Singh from AAP also shared details of the enthusiastic response Arvind Kejriwal has received during his padyatra, suggesting that the BJP is rattled by the popularity of their public welfare initiatives. Singh claimed that the BJP has resorted to attacking Kejriwal during his march, with BJP leaders even appearing to support the aggression.
As Kejriwal’s padyatra continues, the second phase is set to begin in Rajouri Garden. The objective is to engage with Delhi residents and highlight the challenges posed by the BJP in implementing public welfare initiatives.
Singh challenged the BJP to compete with the AAP on the grounds of welfare politics rather than resorting to political intimidation and imprisonment of AAP leaders, such as Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain.
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