The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is actively supporting Delhi’s Purvanchal community in celebrating the Chhath festival, with government-backed preparations at over a thousand locations across the city.
In a press conference, senior AAP leader and MLA Somnath Bharti highlighted the efforts by the AAP Government to ensure safe and accessible celebrations for all Chhath observers, despite challenges posed by the BJP’s actions to obstruct the festival. He criticized BJP’s reported misuse of authority to hinder Chhath gatherings, while also calling attention to alleged illegal encroachments by BJP leaders on protected land.
Senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti stated, “Chhath, the revered four-day festival, is now on its third day, marking the evening offering. Before AAP Government came to power in Delhi, Chhath was celebrated in only seven locations. Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, however, the Delhi government has expanded its support, facilitating Chhath celebrations at over a thousand locations across the city.”
Somnath Bharti shared, “In my own constituency, Chhath is celebrated with great reverence at ten different locations. I, too, have been a devoted observer of Chhath and have celebrated the festival with complete purity for years.”
The AAP MLA criticized the BJP for its hostility toward the Chhath festival and the Purvanchal community in Delhi. “In Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opposed Chhath and the Purvanchal community, showing animosity toward Chhath observers,” he said, citing an instance in the Greater Kailash constituency where a BJP representative tried to prevent Chhath celebrations.
Emphasizing the historical significance of Chhath in his own constituency, Somnath Bharti remarked, “In Hauz Khas Village, Chhath has been celebrated for decades, not just recently, at a location that is officially listed as the 18th point in the District Magistrate’s order.”
The senior AAP leader mentioned that this year, as in previous years, the Delhi Government deployed its resources, including JCBs and officials from the District Magistrate’s office, to begin preparations at Chhath sites across the city. Somnath Bharti stated, “As soon as the work began, the BJP misused its power through the DDA and BJP-controlled Delhi Police, intervening at the site and showing disrespect toward women, Chhath observers, and the Purvanchali community.”
Drawing from his own experience as a long-time Chhath observer, Somnath Bharti emphasized, “I speak from personal experience, and what I am saying is the truth. Their behavior was so terrible it can’t even be fully described.”
Somnath Bharti questioned the motives behind the BJP’s actions, and argued, “Through this incident, BJP’s mindset towards Chhath observers and Purvanchalis has been exposed. I was shocked to see such actions.” Somnath Bharti pointed out that a BJP leader had allegedly constructed an illegal hotel on the same DDA land.
Continuing his remarks, Somnath Bharti stated, “Their hatred for Poorvanchalis and Chhath observers is so intense that, to keep Poorvanchalis out of sight from the hotel built by a BJP leader on encroached land, they misused the DDA and police to remove them.”
Somnath Bharti further called out that the BJP’s interference went beyond disrupting the Chhath gathering, stating, “They secretly pressured the police to file an FIR against Chhath observers and local residents. The FIR number is 314 of 2024. It clearly states that even though Chhath has been celebrated there for years, this time it should not be allowed as it falls within protected forest land.”
He further stated, “It is acceptable for a BJP leader’s hotel to be built on protected forest land, but not for Chhath observers to set up a natural site for their prayers. Today, BJP’s anti-Purvanchal and anti-Chhath face is fully exposed.”
Somnath Bharti raised four crucial questions for the BJP, stating, “The BJP leader’s illegal hotel has an order for demolition dated 23.09.2022, but no action has been taken against it. BJP should answer four questions: First, is it unacceptable to BJP if the poor, Chhath observers, or Purvanchalis are visible in front of their leader’s hotel? How come BJP and DDA take no action on the illegal construction on protected land, where they themselves issued a demolition order?
“Does BJP promote such an anti-Purvanchal mindset by allowing its police and DDA to mistreat women? Why is no action taken on encroachments made by BJP leaders, while Chhath gatherings are forcibly stopped?” He asked.
Somnath Bharti said, “We had arranged an alternate location in the parking area of Hauz Khas Village with the help of the Delhi government so that Chhath could still be celebrated. As for the locations where Chhath was not allowed this year, I have shared the reasons with you.”
Somnath Bharti concluded by extending his best regards to all Chhath observers, saying, “I wish all Chhath observers my best regards. Today, I will make my evening offering at Central Park in Gautam Nagar and invite everyone to join if they can.”
