Parties tug it out on Chhat festival

There was high drama at the MCD special House meeting on Monday with Congress leaders accusing BJP of declaring a public holiday on November 1 for Chhat Puja, when it has no such power.

There was high drama at the MCD special House meeting on Monday with Congress leaders accusing BJP of declaring a public holiday on November 1 for Chhat Puja, when it has no such power.

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According to Congress leaders, Mayor Rajni Abbi declared a holiday without even sending a request to the Delhi government or the Lieutenant Governor, the two authorities with such rights. However, despite Mayor’s declaration, no official intimation of a public holiday has been generated by the MCD.

In view of the coming MCD elections, the drama can be viewed as an effort by both parties to use Chhat Puja to gain political mileage. There are about 30 lakh Purvanchali people residing in Delhi. Both parties are trying to lure them as they form a big votebank.

“We are requesting the chief minister to declare Chhat a holiday, but the manner in which MCD steeped over its rights and declared a holiday without consulting the authorities, is aimed towards misleading the public,” said Farhad Suri, Congress Councillor. The BJP, however, insisted that MCD has a right under Section 42 WA of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act to declare a holiday.