The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lambasted the BJP over the viral video opposing the fish market in Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said BJP only targets the poor, while it lacks the courage to act against non-veg being served in five-star hotels.
The senior AAP leader pointed out that Chittaranjan Park, where Ma Durga is worshipped, also has non-veg food, and eating non-veg during Navratri is a part of Bengali culture. He added that BJP has no understanding of Indian culture and blindly believes what it sees on WhatsApp, warning that this ignorance of Bengal’s traditions will cost them.
AAP’s Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj, reacting to the viral video of fish and meat being sold in CR Park, asserted that the BJP has no understanding of India’s culture. “BJP leaders blindly believe whatever they see on WhatsApp. I believe that the Bengali community living in Chittaranjan Park is among the most educated and intellectual groups. BJP’s ignorance of Bengal’s culture will cost them dearly,” he said.
Saurabh Bharadwaj added, “Nowhere is Durga Puja celebrated with more devotion than in Chittaranjan Park. In the same premises where Ma Durga is worshipped, you will also find fish and non-vegetarian food being sold. People eat non-vegetarian food even during Navratri – that is their culture. It is wrong for BJP leaders to start goondaism there after elections, to threaten the community. That market is legal. The DDA has officially allotted shops to fish sellers.”
He questioned, “Why does the BJP always target poor street vendors? There are so many five-star hotels in Delhi – if they have the courage, they should enter those hotels and ask why non-vegetarian food is being served during Navratri. Why is fish being cooked there? Why is alcohol being served in those hotels? BJP has no objection to five-star hotels. But when a poor man sells fish, they bully him. They make videos of him and flaunt it as bravery. This is wrong.”
This is an extortion attempt targeting poor fish vendors: Atishi
Leader of Opposition Atishi, reacting to the controversy over the CR Park fish market, said the BJP is harassing poor fish vendors instead of questioning the DDA. “It is the DDA that built the fish market and allotted shops there. If BJP has a problem with fish being sold, they should ask the DDA to cancel the licences. What is the point of oppressing poor vendors?”
She added, “I believe this is an attempt to extort money from the fish sellers. When the DDA itself sets up the market, what will the BJP achieve by troubling poor shopkeepers?”
