State Government’s decision to ban Chhath puja at water bodies in the State attracted widespread protest from various political and non-political organisations here on Monday.
The BJP lawmakers including Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth, MLAs CP Singh, Naveen Jaiswal and Simri Lal on Monday observed one hour ‘Jal Satyagraha’ standing in the waters of the Batam Talab (pond) protesting against the directive prohibiting congregation and religious ceremony on the banks of rivers, ponds and other public water bodies for Chhath puja, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the BJP leaders made their opposition by observing Jal Satyagraha, the ruling party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress too have opposed State Government notification.
Former minister and Ranchi MLA, CP Singh opposing the Government notification said, “For State Government there is no corona scare when Chief Minister and government officials visit Baba Risaldar mazar offering chadar. They are holding rallies and public meetings at Dumka and Bermo bye-elections, but when majority community religious interest comes, the government goes by corona guidelines.” The Ranchi MLA and other lawmakers demanded the government to make amendments in the government notification.
Echoing the views of CP Singh, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth alleged that the Hemant Soren government is following the appeasement policy targeting Hindu majority. He said, “The Government directive asks people to observe Chhath festival in their houses, in such a situation the government should dig ponds outside people's houses.” BJP MLA from Hatia Naveen Jaiswal questioning Hemant government move claimed that even Bihar has allowed people to celebrate Chhath festivals in rivers and ponds.
Meanwhile, State BJP president Deepak Prakash has written a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren stating that state government directive on Chhath festival hurts the sentiments of millions of people who observe the festival. Chhath is ritualized by worshipping and bathing followed by a phase of abstinence and isolation of the devotee from the family for four days.
Voices of dissent are also heard from the ruling party camp. Congress legislator from Jharia, Purnima Neeraj Singh took to twitter to express her displeasure over State Government’s move. She tweeted, “The State Government’s fresh directive on Chhath festival is not conducive. During this corona pandemic several functions were held. The government should make amendments in its recent notification.”
Even JMM has urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to make amendments in Government directives. JMM general secretary, Vinod Pandey met chief minister Soren and submitted a memorandum urging the Chief Minister to make amendments in government directives.
According to the guidelines issued by the State Disaster Management Committee late on Sunday, all precautions were being taken by the government to ensure the safety of people amid the pandemic, and as part of the measures, no one would be allowed to organise any musical or cultural programme near the water bodies during the Chhath festival. Decorative lights at public places and bursting of firecrackers, too, have been forbidden this time. The committee, in its notification, said that the practice of taking bath in one water body by a group of people could increase chances of virus transmission.