Mayor to discuss Chhat holiday in special meeting

The Delhi Mayor has called a special meeting of the MCD to discuss the issue of declaring a public holiday for the civic agency on the occasion of Chhat puja.

The Delhi Mayor has called a special meeting of the MCD to discuss the issue of declaring a public holiday for the civic agency on the occasion of Chhat puja.

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"We regret the fact that the Delhi government did not approve of MCD's decision. Under the Delhi Municipal Act 1957, it is MCD's obligatory function to take appropriate steps to ensure social justice. It does not require Delhi government's permission," said Mayor Rajni Abbi.

Justifying the civic agency's decision, Abbi said 40 lakh Delhiites hail from Bihar, Jharkhand and other states where Chhat puja is observed.

MCD commissioner KS Mehra's seeking the Delhi government's permission for the holiday has upset the political wing of the MCD. "The government was informed about this. But it is prejudiced. We will discuss about it in the meeting," Abbi said.

But leader of opposition in MCD JK Sharma said the Delhi government is justified in denying the MCD permission to declare holiday on November 1.

"It is a political move as elections are round the corner. It's strange that in the last four years, BJP never thought of declaring it a holiday," Sharma said.