Chhath Puja celebration aftermath: In the name of faith, two parks dug up in Chandigarh

BJP councillor Davesh Moudgil, who attended Chhath Puja, says religious ceremonies should not be questioned

Chhath Puja organisers dug up trenches and filled them with water in two parks in Sector 47, one of them near the Air Force houses, on Friday, without any prior approval.

Devotees created a temporary water body at a park in sector 47, Chandigarh for Chatth Puja on Friday (Ravi Kumar)

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including, former Member of Parliament Satya Pal Jain, former senior deputy mayor Davesh Moudgil and vice-president of the women’s wing Meera Sharma, were present at the ceremonies.

The two parks fall under the horticulture division of the municipal corporation, Chandigarh (MC), which have been developed for recreational purposes, with a sheltered sitting area and play area for children.

When contacted, horticulture sub-divisional engineer Jangsher Singh said he was not aware whether any permission was taken to dig up the parks. Executive engineer of the division, Krishan Pal Singh, refused to comment on the issue.

Speaking to HT, area councillor Davesh Moudgil said the event is organised every year. “I believe such religious ceremonies should not be questioned. If am invited to any event in my area, I make it a point to attend it,” he said.