Delhi CM Kejriwal, cabinet colleagues to participate in Diwali rituals

Kejriwal visited Ayodhya last week, and his ministerial colleagues participated in Diwali rituals at the Akshardham Temple last year

On the eve of Diwali on Wednesday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the citizens to strictly follow Covid discipline -- wear a mask and avoid crowded places -- while observing festivities, and reminded them that it was during this time last year that the number of Covid cases spiked.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal performed aarti at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya last month. (Photo ANI)

Kejriwal said that he has seen pictures of people flouting norms in crowded markets. He said that the Covid pandemic is still not over and dengue is on the rise, and stressed the need to practise utmost care and preventive behaviour.

“Diwali is the time when happiness and zeal galore all over the country. Covid cases have been low and people are flocking the markets. But, several people are not following norms and not wearing masks,” Kejriwal said.

“I have seen pictures from markets where norms are being flouted. I fold my hands before the people of Delhi and make an earnest request -- please wear masks, please follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. It was at this time last year, when Covid cases boomed and badly affected the festivities,” the chief minister said.

Kejriwal appealed to the people to step out only when necessary to curb the spread of the viral disease. “Please don’t be irresponsible. I am not asking this for any personal gains. It is you who will fall sick, it is you whose families will be under threat. Covid is a very lethal disease and we need to treat it in that manner itself. Please only step out of your homes when necessary and please wear a mask when you do so,” he said.

Asking people to stay indoors, Kejriwal urged people to join him and his cabinet of ministers on the live telecast of Diwali Puja from the Thyagaraj Stadium where the state government has built a temporary structure resembling the under-construction Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

“Tomorrow (Thursday), we will be celebrating Diwali. Let us celebrate it together once again. At 7 pm, I will be participating in the rituals with my cabinet ministers and the event will be broadcast live on several TV channels. I request you to join us from your homes,” said Kejriwal at an online briefing.

Kejriwal visited Ayodhya last week, and his ministerial colleagues participated in Diwali rituals at the Akshardham Temple last year. The rituals were live-streamed to discourage people from stepping out for community celebrations in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge, in September held a “Tiranga yatra (Tricolour march)” in Ayodhya while calling for Ram Rajya that they equated with true nationalism and communal harmony.

The two offered prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and the Hanuman Garhi Temple besides meeting several seers in Ayodhya.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party earlier also kick-started their campaigns ahead of the 2022 polls in Uttar Pradesh from Ayodhya. The Supreme Court in 2019 paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site where the demolished Babri Masjid once stood.

Kejriwal also warned people over increasing cases of dengue.