New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led Delhi administration for politicising the sacred Kanwar Yatra by defunding long-standing community-run camps and redirecting funds to BJP-backed and affiliated organisations.
Addressing a press convention, senior AAP chief and Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, ‘Every 12 months, we supported all Kanwar camps–irrespective of their political affiliations–by arranging tents, lights, sound methods, furnishings, followers, coolers, music methods, and phases. The Kanwar committees solely needed to deal with ‘seva’ and managing the prasad distribution. This mannequin ran easily for years. I can say with full duty that it by no means mattered whether or not a Kanwar committee was aligned with Congress, BJP, or AAP–our authorities helped everybody equally.’
Claiming to have uncovered the coverage shift, he said, ‘The BJP authorities has first declared that they may not present tents, lights, or sound straight. Instead, they claimed they will give cash. This created confusion and anxiousness amongst Kanwar committees–how a lot might be given? When will or not it’s given? Even throughout a gathering held on the Secretariat, ministers used derogatory phrases in regards to the Kanwar committees and the camps themselves. It was stated that cash could be transferred to their accounts, however now when the time has come to arrange the camps, nobody has obtained something. The committees do not understand how a lot will come or when.’
Calling out the BJP for concentrating on non-affiliated camps, the AAP Delhi State President revealed, ‘Now, BJP leaders are being requested to type new committees, register societies, open financial institution accounts, and solely then they will be funded by the federal government. Delhi’s taxpayer cash, authorities funds, are being withheld from these Kanwar committees which have served for 10, 15, 20 years. Instead, the cash is being directed to newly fashioned committees run by BJP leaders.’
Saurabh Bharadwaj cited a selected occasion, ‘Our MLA Kuldeep Kumar has been operating a Kanwar camp at Kondli Pul, close to Sankhwar Hospital, for the final six years. Every 12 months, the federal government offered tents, lights, and sound. This was possible Delhi’s greatest Kanwar camp, as it’s positioned proper on the entry level to town and serves hundreds of pilgrims. But this 12 months, as a result of this political vendetta, their tents have been eliminated by police this morning (July 9). They have been instructed their camp will not be allowed and that somebody new might be assigned to arrange the camp.’
Elaborating extra on the scenario, senior AAP chief and Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar said, ‘Every 12 months, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi authorities has made glorious preparations for the Kanwar Yatra. From tents and lights to bogs and sound systems–everything was offered, whereas neighborhood organizations dealt with meals and repair for the pilgrims. This was the custom in Delhi.’
‘I’ve seen camps costing 25-40 lakh, particularly in border areas like Shahdara the place large camps are arrange 15-20 days upfront. But now, it is already the tenth July, and the Kanwar Jal is scheduled for the Twenty third–just 13 days left–and not a single committee is aware of whether or not they’re getting a tent or not. They’re unsure about funding, logistics, or the place to get donations from. There’s full chaos,’ he asserted.
Kuldeep Kumar additional added, ‘During the assembly on the Secretariat, all Kanwar committees opposed this new coverage. Minister Kapil Mishra even assured them that their considerations could be thought of and this coverage wouldn’t be applied. But regardless of that, it has been forcefully imposed throughout Delhi, inflicting whole dysfunction.’
He shared, ‘This morning, permission for a Kanwar camp that had been working on the similar spot for the final six years was cancelled and granted to a different group. I wish to ask all establishments concerned in Kanwar Seva and even those who arrange Chhath Puja–does the BJP now wish to seize management of Delhi’s spiritual establishments too, identical to they did with the ED, CBI, and Election Commission? Do solely those that be a part of BJP need to run these committees? If an MLA would not help BJP, does it imply his space will not get a Kanwar camp? This is a dictatorship. This is goondaism.’
The AAP MLA said, ‘The massive Kanwar camp at Kondli Pul, which served Shiva devotees for six straight years, was dismantled. And now BJP leaders are pondering to learn their very own people–by opening financial institution accounts, register organizations, and getting the cash. This is a brand new channel of corruption. A brand new rip-off. We wish to remind them–no one escapes the wrath of Lord Shiva. Don’t invite the curse of Bholenath.’ (ANI)