New Delhi: BJP MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari on Monday slammed the Delhi government over pollution in Yamuna, as many devotees thronged the banks of the river to celebrate the Chhath Puja, despite ban.
"It is a sad scene that we are witnessing today. Yamuna is so dirty, perhaps that is why Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal banned Chhath celebration at Yamuna banks," Tiwari said.
He was at the riverside in Kalindi Kunj, where devotees had gathered at the bank of the river to celebrate the Chhath festival.
"There were promises made by the Delhi government that Yamuna would be cleaned. I am pained to think this is the Yamuna water we drink," said Tiwari.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has banned Chhath Puja celebration at the banks of Yamuna this year. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal is the Chairperson of DDMA.
Initially, DDMA had banned the Chhath celebration. It was later allowed for public at designated places with Covid-19 protocols in place.
"They banned the celebration of Chhath, they first tried to ban it completely, thanks to the media and people of Delhi that ban was lifted. However, they still banned worship at the river bank. This water is poison, Arvind Kejriwal should have come here," Tiwari said.
Chhath is a prominent festival of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and is now celebrated widely in Delhi as well, which has a large population of migrants from these states. According to government estimates and migration data from Census 2011, 'Poorvanchalis' account for over one-third of Delhi's population.
The festival is dedicated to worshipping the Sun god, and is done on the bank of a river or a water body. The devotees also take a dip in water as part of the rituals, raising concerns over celebrating the festival in the polluted Yamuna water.
The Delhi government has also announced a holiday on account of Chhath Puja. (UNI)