Delhi CM, Malhotra join devotees at various Chhat pujas in city

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) With elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly round the corner, both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP are going all out to woo the people from Poorvanchal and Bihar settled in the city, who Constitute a sizeable vote bank in the forthcoming polls.

On the occasion of Chhat Puja, a symbol of cultural heritage of Poorvanchalis settled in Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and BJP chief ministerial candidate for Delhi Vijay Kumar Malhotra today visited various Chhath Ghats to convey their greetings and best wishes to the devotees and offer prayers.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Dikshit described Chhat Parv as an important festival of prosperity and joy.

''The festival has always been celebrated with religious fervour and devotion. This festival also helps in cementing social bonds apart from disseminating message of brotherhood, co-existence and mutual cooperation,''Ms Dikshit said.

The Chief Minister said the establishment of a separate Maithili Bhojpuri Akademi has been widely applauded by 40 lakh Poorvanchalis in Delhi.

''They have contributed substantially in the development of Delhi. They are the backbone of our Congress Party which is committed to accelerating pace of development,''Ms Dikshit said and expressed confidence that Poorvanchali Samaj would continue to ensure its blessings and cooperation to her Party.

Offering his prayers on the occasion of Chhat puja, BJP Chief ministerial candidate V K Malhotra accused the Congress Government of step -motherly treatment towards the Poorvanchalis.

He said the Delhi Chief Minister had sometime ago said the people of UP and Bihar are a burden on Delhi.

''She had said that these people of UP and Bihar take over their supremacy on the basic amenities after settling in Delhi and due to this the whole structure of basic amenities in the national capital has been destroyed,''Mr Malhotra said.

Alleging that due to a conspiracy, the voter ID cards and ration cards of Poorvanchalis settled in Delhi were not made, Prof Malhotra assured the Poorvanchalis that their voter ID cards and ration cards would be made very soon.

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