Appeal to leaders of other parties to not do politics over Chhath Puja: Kejriwal


PTI, Oct 2, 2021, 4:01 PM IST

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to rival leaders to “not do politics” over Chhath Puja, even as he asserted that the restrictions imposed on its celebrations at riverbanks and other public places were for the safety of people amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The AAP supremo also urged that leaders of other parties should instead join the efforts of the government in raising awareness on the risks of the coronavirus infection spread involved, if large number of people enter into water bodies.

“We also want that life should be back on track, and Chhath Puja should be celebrated with much festivities. But, people offer ”arghyas” (to the Sun God) in the evening and the next morning, by entering into a waterbody. But, there is a large risk involved in it, as even if one person is infected with coronavirus, he or she can spread to everyone else around him through medium of water,” he told reporters.

Delhi units of both the BJP and the Congress have demanded that Chhath Puja celebrations be allowed in the national capital.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in its order on Thursday prohibited Chhath Puja celebrations at public places, including riverbanks and temples, in view of COVID-19. Chhath Puja was prohibited at public places in Delhi last year as well in view of the pandemic.

Chhath Puja, a four-day festival, is celebrated in Delhi largely by people hailing from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh or ”Purvanchalis”. It has been considered an important vote-bank by all major parties here. This year, it falls early November.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari alleged on Friday that Kejriwal had “insulted” lakhs of Purvanchalis in Delhi by banning Chhath Puja celebrations in the city.

Tiwari, who held a meeting with Chhath Puja committees at his residence here, said he will be forced to stage a “massive protest” along with Purvanchalis (people of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh settled in Delhi), if the ban was not lifted.

“I appeal, with folded hands, to the leaders in other parties, to not politicise the issue, not do politics over it. They should, instead join the efforts of the government on raising awareness on safety of people amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Kejriwal said on Saturday.

This decision was “imperative” to ensure safety of people, more so when Delhi has fought four waves of the pandemic, the chief minister said.

“So, many people lost their lives in the last wave, in April-May time, and we have saved lives with great challenges. We don’t want anyone to contract Covid again, so this decision was taken,” he said.

Delhi on Friday recorded zero death due to COVID-19 and 32 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 0.05 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

Despite fall in daily cases in the last several days, Kejriwal had recently cautioned that the chances of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were quite real, while he asserted that his government was preparing on a “war-footing” to combat it.

The number of cumulative cases on Friday stood at 14,38,900. Over 14.13 lakh patients have recovered from the virus. The death toll due to the coronavirus infection in Delhi stands at 25,087.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Egg distribution scheme for school children under scrutiny over alleged mismanagement

India Post M’luru division to offer doorstep service to pensioners for Jeevan Praman certificate

Cong asks PM Modi why Gujarat’s white onion farmers given preferential treatment

Kharge slams Fadnavis, says people of Maharashtra will give a befitting reply to BJP

Doctors report treating ‘petticoat cancer’ in women who might have tied sarees tightly at waist

Incentive fund for SC/ST students of national institutes increased, says Minister Mahadevappa

Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport gets 4,000 sqft hydroponic green wall

Related Articles More

Cong asks PM Modi why Gujarat’s white onion farmers given preferential treatment

Kharge slams Fadnavis, says people of Maharashtra will give a befitting reply to BJP

Kerala CM Vijayan alleges Priyanka contesting Wayanad bypoll with Jamaat-e-Islami support

PM Modi greets BJP veteran L K Advani on his birthday

Congress slams BJP for objecting to colour of Constitution copy carried by Rahul Gandhi

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

M’luru: Flying squad shall curb illegal lotteries and betting, says ADC

Egg distribution scheme for school children under scrutiny over alleged mismanagement

India Post M’luru division to offer doorstep service to pensioners for Jeevan Praman certificate

Channapatna By-election: HDK releases audio of D K Suresh’s comments on Yogeeshwar

Cong asks PM Modi why Gujarat’s white onion farmers given preferential treatment

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.