Just three days left for the Chhath Puja celebrated prominently by the north Indians during the Diwali festive season, the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party continue to trade barbs over the curbs on celebrations in Delhi by the Arvind Kejriwal government.
While the BJP has been slamming the AAP government for restricting Chhath Puja, now the ruling party has accused the saffron party of not letting 'Purvanchalis' prepare 'ghats' to perform rituals.
According to a report, Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the BJP was playing "dirty politics" over Chhath Puja and insulting 'Purvanchalis'.
“If they (BJP) continue playing dirty politics over Chhath Puja, Purvanchalvasi (People who hail from Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh) will not forgive them,” AAP legislator Sanjeev Jha said at a press conference at the party headquarters.
Hitting back at the AAP, the BJP alleged that Kejriwal’s party is trying to create tension over the issue and urged the people to not pay heed to the “provocative statements” of the AAP leaders.
In a statement, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the municipal corporations are developing 'ghats' for Chhath Puja at “all traditionally identified locations”.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in a recent order said that this year celebrations of Chhath Puja will not be allowed on the banks of the Yamuna or in public places and temples, and will be permitted only at designated sites in the city.
The AAP MLA alleged that the BJP is trying to prevent the celebration of Chhath Puja at DDA and municipal corporations' land in Delhi.
Jha also accused the authorities of not allowing devotees to prepare ghats for Chhath Puja at various locations in Delhi at the behest of the BJP.
"Preparations for Chhath Puja ghat were underway in Dwarka. The mayor of the BJP-ruled municipal corporation visited the spot and said Puja will not be allowed," he said.
