Published 23:59 IST, November 2nd 2024

AAP, BJP Clash Over Setting Up of Chhath Ghat in South Delhi

The Chhath festival is celebrated six days after Diwali. During the festival, women pay obeisance to the Sun god by fasting and offering "arghya" of cow milk and Gangajal to the deity.

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AAP, BJP clash over setting up of Chhath ghat in south Delhi | Image: Unsplash
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New Delhi: ruling AAP and opposition BJP clashed on Saturday over setting up a Chhath ghat in south Delhi for popular Purvanchali festival, with Chief Minister Atishi joining row and slamming saffron party.

In a post in X, Atishi alleged that at behest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a central government agency, is not allowing Chhath ghat to be set up, saying "such petty politics" would not be allowed.

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issue pertains to setting up of a Chhath ghat at a DDA park in Satpula Ground in Chirag Delhi.

Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharwaj, who is also local Greater Kailash MLA of Aam Ami Party (AAP), went to spot and alleged that BJP-controlled DDA is stopping Purvanchali people from setting up ghat.

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Bharwaj staged a sit-in protest at spot, alleging that BJP "coerced" DDA to halt construction of Chhath ghat and got Delhi Police to lock up Chirag Delhi's eight-year-old Chhath Puja site.

minister also shared a video on X, in which a man is heard claiming that people were not allowed to set up ghat despite permission from deputy commissioner.

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A DDA officer said site is at Satpula lake, where a 6,000-sq.mtr area has alrey been allotted for Chhath Puja.

BJP hit back at Bharwaj, accusing him and AAP workers of preventing setting up of Chhath ghat, and claiming that "anti-Hindu face" of party led by Arvind Kejriwal has been exposed.

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BJP leer Shikha Rai alleged that residents of Greater Kailash arrived at Satpula DDA Park to clean Chhath Puja ghat site but were prevented by Bharwaj's men.

" AAP workers issued threats and pressured residents and BJP workers to leave," she claimed.

Purvanchalis -- Bhojpuri-speaking people from Uttar Presh, Bihar and Jharkhand -- settled in Delhi are an influential vote bank, accounting for 30 to 40 per cent of around 1.5 crore votes in national capital.

AAP and BJP have been engaged in an intense war of words and blame game ahe of next year's Delhi Assembly polls over a host of issues, including air pollution and preparations for Chhath.

Chhath festival is celebrated six days after Diwali . During festival, women pay obeisance to Sun god by fasting and offering "arghya" of cow milk and Gangajal to deity, stepping knee deep into a water body.

Rai said Chhath Puja has been celebrated at park with great enthusiasm for last 16 years. However, in recent years, AAP workers occupied 6,000-sq.mtr area a few days before festival and imposed arbitrary arrangement conditions, she alleged.

BJP leer also alleged that when she and or members of Chhath committee arrived at spot to dig up ghat, Bharwaj's bror, along with his associates, tried to stop m.

23:59 IST, November 2nd 2024