Nirupam demands public holiday for 'chhat puja'

Mumbai, May 14 (UNI) Congress spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam today demanded that the Maharashtra government declare a public holiday on Chhat Puja day.

Chhat Puja is celebrated by Bhojpuri- and Hindi-speaking population of the city in a very big way after Diwali in November.

Mr Nirupam said he had written a letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, saying the Chhat Puja day is a holiday in the North.

In the letter, he said as thousands of people from Hindi-speaking belt of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh throng to the city's seashores on that day, it could lead to traffic congestion.

The Congress leader argued that if Chhat Puja day is declared a holiday, officegoers would be spared inordinate delay due to heavy traffic.

It may be noted that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackery has been opposing celebration of Chhat Puja in the city.

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has challenged him by announcing that he plans to perform the Puja at Shivaji Park where Raj Thackeray resides.

Mr Deshmukh had said the state government would be happy to provide necessary permissions and he himself would participate in the Puja.

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