Will there be a public holiday on Chhath puja? Authorities yet to take call
28 Oct 2014 4:35 AM IST
The stand of Delhi BJP still remains a little ambiguous over declaration of a public holiday on the occasion of Chhath puja as the state BJP unit is yet to raise the demand strongly from the government. Although the top brass claims to have approached the competent authorities but the various associations are till now doubtful as to whether the party is serious at all about the issue.
Meanwhile, the Congress has blamed BJP for its double standards and has said that they (BJP) had made huge demands last year when Congress was in power but fell silent during their own regime. It may be noted that about 40 lakh Poorvanchalis celebrate Chhath in the national Capital and the Delhi BJP had made a hue and cry to declare a holiday when they were not in power.
The party functionaries, on most of the occasions, asked the then government to declare the festival days a public holiday and had ensured the same in MCDs where its rule prevails. Senior leaders, while campaigning during the assembly polls in the previous years, had assured to declare a public holiday on Chhath but it clearly reflects that the party is in a limbo over the issue this time.
‘Till last year, we were assured that our demands will be fulfilled but now, the leaders have become silent. Even after several rounds of consultations, we are not sure whether our demand will be taken seriously or not,’ said Vijay Mishra, organisor of Chhath puja samiti on Sarai Kale Khan area.
However, the Delhi BJP president, Satish Upadhyay said that the party is very serious about the issue and are in talks with the concerned authorities in this regard. ‘We have approached the Lieutenant Governor (LG) as well the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and have raised our concern. Let’s see if they accept our demand or not,’ said Upadhyay.
Meanwhile, the Congress has blamed BJP for its double standards and has said that they (BJP) had made huge demands last year when Congress was in power but fell silent during their own regime. It may be noted that about 40 lakh Poorvanchalis celebrate Chhath in the national Capital and the Delhi BJP had made a hue and cry to declare a holiday when they were not in power.
The party functionaries, on most of the occasions, asked the then government to declare the festival days a public holiday and had ensured the same in MCDs where its rule prevails. Senior leaders, while campaigning during the assembly polls in the previous years, had assured to declare a public holiday on Chhath but it clearly reflects that the party is in a limbo over the issue this time.
‘Till last year, we were assured that our demands will be fulfilled but now, the leaders have become silent. Even after several rounds of consultations, we are not sure whether our demand will be taken seriously or not,’ said Vijay Mishra, organisor of Chhath puja samiti on Sarai Kale Khan area.
However, the Delhi BJP president, Satish Upadhyay said that the party is very serious about the issue and are in talks with the concerned authorities in this regard. ‘We have approached the Lieutenant Governor (LG) as well the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and have raised our concern. Let’s see if they accept our demand or not,’ said Upadhyay.
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