JOIN USBJP comes up with Chhat wish list, demands public holiday on festival
A day after Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit assured to provide all necessary facilities for the Chhat puja on ghats, BJP on Thursday demanded that the government should declare November 19 as a public holiday, keeping in view the sentiments of lakhs of Poorvanchalis living in the city.
Addressing a press conference at party headquarters, Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta raised a 13-point demand for safe and enjoyable Chhat Puja. He said the party will depute 10,000 volunteers to help devotees at about 160 Chhat ghats across Delhi.
“In Bihar and its neighbouring areas two days public holiday is allowed so that the people may observe Chhath Puja of Lord Sun will full enthusiasm. This festival is observed for the welfare of family, society, country and the world and besides India it is observed in Mauritius, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Java, Sumatra, Africa etc. where Poorvanchalis are living. We demand that Delhi government should declare it a public holiday,” said Gupta.
Beside demanding a public holiday, BJP has also demanded a sufficient number of special trains to be run from Delhi to Bihar. Arrangements for worshippers in city parks, additional water to be released at Wazirabad ghats, cleaning of Yamuna, provision of sufficient toilets, tents, medical facilities, motor boats and deployment of police personnel etc are some of the other demands read out by Gupta.
“BJP has always been the protector of Indian culture and will depute 10,000 volunteers for helping the Chhath worshippers at every Chhath ghat. However, Delhi government should make arrangements for the sale of fruits/flowers and other necessary items for Chhat Puja at concessional rates so that price spiral does not spoil the festival,” said Gupta, adding that the shopkeepers have already increased the prices of fruits and items, which are used in Chhat Puja.