Don’t politicise Chhath Puja: EC tells parties
7 Nov 2013 5:43 AM IST
The Election Commission said on Wednesday that it will keep an eye on Chhath festivities to ensure that candidates don’t use the festival ahead of the Delhi assembly elections as an event to garner votes.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel has been demanding a gazetted holiday on the occasion and to make special arrangements on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Congress on the other hand has slammed the BJP and accused it of trying to politicise Chhath Puja for vote bank politics.
Now, the electoral office has taken the whole arrangement of the festival in its hands. ‘There is no need for any political party to take credit for Chhath Puja. As many as 210 vigilance squads have been constituted to keep a tab on the festival,’ said a Delhi Election Commission official. Cameramen will also take video footage of the various events.
‘Political parties have been told that none of their candidates should deliver any political speech or do anything that can sabotage the harmony of the festival,’ said the official. Strict action would be taken if the candidates and their party members try to politicise the occasion, he added.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel has been demanding a gazetted holiday on the occasion and to make special arrangements on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Congress on the other hand has slammed the BJP and accused it of trying to politicise Chhath Puja for vote bank politics.
Now, the electoral office has taken the whole arrangement of the festival in its hands. ‘There is no need for any political party to take credit for Chhath Puja. As many as 210 vigilance squads have been constituted to keep a tab on the festival,’ said a Delhi Election Commission official. Cameramen will also take video footage of the various events.
‘Political parties have been told that none of their candidates should deliver any political speech or do anything that can sabotage the harmony of the festival,’ said the official. Strict action would be taken if the candidates and their party members try to politicise the occasion, he added.
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