Amid political blame game over Chhath Puja preparations, the Delhi BJP on Wednesday mounted a fresh attack on the Delhi Government accusing it of banning Chhath celebrations on the Yamuna riverbanks to cover up its failure to clean the river.
Addressing the media, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta claimed that Yamuna picked up 80 per cent of its pollutants from industrial discharge and sewage in its 22-km passage through the national Capital.
"Arvind Kejriwal ji, you banned Chhath at Yamuna banks to cover up the failure of your government to clean the river," Gupta said.
North East Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also slammed the AAP government over heavy pollution in the Yamuna. "The Kejriwal government is stopping people from celebrating Chhath at the banks of the river instead of preventing flow of drains such as Najafgarh nullah. The Supreme Court should take note of the situation and the Kejriwal government should be treated like a criminal for playing with the health of the people," Tiwari said.
It has directed administrative and police officials to ensure strict compliance with all its COVID-19-related orders. The festival of Chhath, popular among Purvanchali inhabitants of the national capital, will be celebrated with paying obeisance ('arghya') to the setting Sun on Wednesday evening. It will conclude with 'arghya' to the rising Sun on Thursday.
The BJP and the AAP are engaged in a war of words over the festival with each trying to outsmart the other and seek favour of the Purvanchali community.