Shalimar Bagh Ramleela cancelled despite permission, organisers intimidated: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday alleged that permission for a Ramleela in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's constituency, was cancelled after preparations had been completed, news agency Press Trust of India reported.AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj demanded that the chief minister explain why the event was stopped despite the organisers having secured permission and paid the required amount.Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj claimed that a father-daughter duo had obtained permission and made the payment to organise the Ramleela in Shalimar village. However, he alleged that the police intervened on the day the event was scheduled to begin.Bharadwaj alleged that the head of the local police station, or station house officer, intimidated the organisers and took them to the police station, preventing the event from being held. There was no immediate response from the BJP or the government to the allegations, according to Press Trust of India.Bharadwaj claimed that the organisers had accused Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her family of being responsible for the cancellation, despite their appeals to allow the event. "The chief minister should explain why the Ramleela was stopped after all the preparations had been completed. The organisers had obtained permission and made the necessary arrangements, yet they were not allowed to hold the event," Bharadwaj said.The AAP leader also alleged that the incident was part of a wider pattern in which the BJP sought to control religious events and their organising committees.Referring to Ramleela events in Chirag Delhi, Bharadwaj claimed that people had stopped attending one event because its rides were expensive compared with those at another Ramleela nearby.He further alleged that BJP leaders were pressuring organisers of religious events to join the party. He claimed that similar pressure was being exerted on committees organising Chhath Puja events and Kanwar camps.Bharadwaj reiterated his demand that the chief minister clarify the circumstances in which permission for the Shalimar Bagh Ramleela was cancelled after the organisers had completed their preparations.- Ends