Delhi CM offers prayer at Chhath ghat, lauds contribution by Purvanchal community

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with senior BJP leaders, on Sunday evening (November 15, 2026) offered “arghya” (prayers) at a Chhath Ghat on the Yamuna in Sonia Vihar, amidst other devotees, and lauded the efforts of the Purvanchal community toward the development of the city.Meanwhile, the politics over the Yamuna’s pollution refused to die down, as the AAP attacked the BJP government for arresting an alleged Dalit youth in connection with dead fish found in the upper stretch of the Yamuna River in Sonia Vihar. The party alleged that the police let the Dalit youth go only after the AAP raised the issue.Niharika Bhatt said that Surender, aged around 30, was arrested in connection with the case. He was later released, as it was a bailable offence, denying any political pressure for the release, she added.Earlier this week, a large number of fish were found dead in the river near Sonia Vihar, and the BJP accused the AAP of dumping those fish in the river.Later, following a complaint by the Delhi government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons for allegedly spreading misinformation about the deaths of a large number of fish in the Yamuna, according to Delhi Police officials.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said that Metros will operate from 4:30 a.m. on Monday instead of 6 a.m. to facilitate the movement of devotees for morning prayers. “Metro services will operate at a 15-minute frequency on all lines until the commencement of regular revenue services, as per the scheduled timetable for the day,” the DMRC said in a post on X.Traffic regulations will continue to be in place on roads leading to and adjoining various ghats on the Yamuna, including Ram Ghat, Soor Ghat, Bajrangi Ghat, Vasudev Ghat, and Hathi Ghat, as per the Delhi Police.CM praises Purvanchali communityThe Chief Minister said that Delhi is home to people from every part of the country, and the Purvanchali community has made a significant contribution to the development and growth of the capital through its hard work and dedication.“The Delhi government is committed to ensuring that its Purvanchali brothers and sisters feel at home and have access to better facilities while celebrating their festivals in the capital. Chhath is deeply connected to their faith and cultural identity, and the government is therefore committed to ensuring that devotees have access to better ghats, a clean environment and all necessary facilities for performing the rituals,” Ms. Gupta said. The Chief Minister said that Chhath is not merely a religious observance but a unique celebration of faith, discipline, cleanliness, dedication, and social harmony. The festival teaches us to respect nature and the environment, and the tradition of worshipping both the setting and the rising sun conveys the message of expressing gratitude for every phase of life, she added.AAP targets BJP Meanwhile, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also took part in Chhath Puja in Kondli, East Delhi, with AAP MLA from the area Kuldeep Kumar, and said that he prayed for everyone’s peace and prosperity.Earlier in the day, Mr. Bharadwaj, addressing a press conference, said, “The Delhi government’s goondagardi has increased considerably. Minister Parvesh (Sahib Singh) Verma got an FIR registered against the Dalit youth who recorded a video showing fish dying due to pollution in the Yamuna and posted it on social media. The Dalit youth is a Bahujan Samaj Party worker. Following the FIR, Delhi Police arrested him on Saturday evening. When we raised the issue on social media, the police released the youth a short while later. But this is the BJP government’s goondagardi.”Mr. Bharadwaj also alleged that Yamuna is polluted in Delhi and that it can affect children during the festival. “If the young children of our Purvanchali brothers and sisters drink this polluted water, they could fall seriously ill and may even end up in hospital,” he said.The Yamuna holds religious significance for the people of Purvanchal, residents of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who constitute a significant voter base in Delhi.