A major political controversy has erupted in Delhi ahead of the sacred Chhath Puja festival, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leveling serious allegations against the central government. The party claims that a "staged" and "artificial" ghat has been specially created on the banks of the Yamuna River specifically for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled inspection.
The Core Allegations
According to AAP officials, this particular ghat near Kalindi Kunj stands out conspicuously from other Chhath Puja sites along the river. The party alleges that while devotees will be using regular, polluted Yamuna water for their rituals, this specific ghat has been equipped with filtered water treatment systems to present a cleaner appearance during the Prime Minister's visit.
"This is nothing but a carefully orchestrated deception aimed at misleading the Prime Minister about the actual condition of the Yamuna," claimed an AAP spokesperson. "While common devotees struggle with the heavily polluted river water, a special showpiece has been created for VIP visits."
BJP's Counterattack
The Bharatiya Janata Party swiftly responded to these allegations with equally strong accusations. BJP representatives dismissed AAP's claims as baseless and accused the Delhi government of attempting to divert attention from their own failures in cleaning the Yamuna River.
"Instead of playing blame games, AAP should answer why the Yamuna remains polluted despite the Delhi government receiving thousands of crores for cleaning projects," countered a senior BJP leader. "This is a desperate attempt to hide their administrative incompetence ahead of the festival season."
Chhath Puja Preparations Amid Political Clash
The timing of this controversy is particularly sensitive as Delhi prepares for Chhath Puja, one of the most significant festivals for the Purvanchali community. The festival involves devotees offering prayers to the Sun God while standing in water bodies for extended periods.
Authorities have been working on creating temporary ghats and ensuring proper facilities for the thousands of expected devotees. However, the political spat has now cast a shadow over these preparations, with both parties trading accusations about who is genuinely concerned about devotees' welfare.
The controversy highlights the ongoing political tensions in Delhi and raises questions about the actual condition of the Yamuna River, which has been a subject of environmental concern for decades. As preparations for Chhath Puja continue, all eyes remain on how this political drama will unfold and what impact it might have on the sacred celebrations.
