Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Adami Party and the Delhi Chief Minister, was warned by Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday against “misleading” and “premature publicity” regarding Chhath Puja. In response, the AAP said that the LG was lowering the dignity of the office he holds.
“We strongly disagree with the way LG described the Honorable CM. By verbally assaulting CM in front of the public daily, he is eroding the respect due to the chair he holds. Representative CM has been elected with historically significant margins three times in a row. Every day, LG should not openly chastise CM, “said the party.
AAP accused the LG of being desperate for inexpensive publicity and wanting to be associated with his name in newspapers daily.
In an earlier statement, the LG office stated that the Chhath Puja plan it had authorized was unique to certain Ghats. Still, Kejriwal later tweeted that Puja may be conducted anywhere along the Yamuna, confusing the public.
The Delhi Government had announced that it would hold Chhath Puja in 1100 ghats this year, and the Government had sanctioned a budget of 25 crores to make it possible for thousands of devotees to offer their prayers on Chhath.
In an interview with ANI, Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot stated, “CM Kejriwal has approved my proposal to allow the celebration of Chatth Puja at different Ghats while taking into consideration the religious and spiritual beliefs and sentiments of thousands of people from UP and Bihar living in Delhi.
He said that the Government is working on setting up amenities for the worshippers at over 1,100 Ghats.
“The Delhi Government has traditionally made the event easier by supplying a variety of amenities, such as building Ghats and maintaining cleanliness surrounding the locations where devotees are expected to make offerings, etc. The administration is prepared to offer the extras to the pilgrims at about 1,100 Ghats this year as well, he added.
“Previously, a worry was expressed over the building of Puja Ghats along the Yamuna River and the gifts made by devotees at such Ghats, which might cause river pollution.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga’s directives and other rulings and instructions made by the National Green Tribunal had been brought to the Government’s attention.
Foam forming in the Yamuna is a well-known issue in Delhi. Every year, images of individuals conducting Chhath Puja while standing atop white foam bring it to light.
However, LG instructs the Revenue and Environment departments to ensure that the NGT’s directives regarding pollution in the Yamuna are strictly followed.
