Trinamool Congress MP Mahu Moitra on Tuesday claimed that fish and meat shops in Delhi's Chittaranjan Park, a predominantly Bengali area, were closed. She posted a video on her microblogging platform, alleging that BJP supporters were intimidating fish market vendors in Chittaranjan Park for operating near a temple.
The BJP, however, countered Mahua Moitra's claim, accusing her of posting a morphed video aimed at disrupting communal harmony in the area.
What Did Mahua Moitra Say?
On Tuesday, Mahua Moitra posted a video on platform X, saying, "Watch as BJP supporters threaten fish-eating Bengalis in Delhi's Chittaranjan Park."
"Never in 60 years has this happened, residents say," she added.
"The market is just adjoining the temple. This is wrong. It is hurting the sentiments of the Sanatanas. Sanatana Dharma says we should not kill anyone... "This is pure fiction that fish and meat are offered to deities. There is no such proof in the 'shastras'. The entire country is watching this," the man said in the video as quoted by India Today.
Moitra said in another tweet, "The temple in CR Park that BJP goons laying claim to was built by the non-veg market vendors! They pray there - the big pujas are held there. Three months of a BJP government in Delhi. Good anniversary present."
To support her claim, Moitra shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp message written in Bengali by a local resident, who alleged that the "forcible closure" of meat and fish shops in CR Park was a "terrible situation".
The WhatsApp message in Bengali, tweeted by Mahua Moitra and transcribed by India Today, read: Didi, I saw your tweet about the forced closure of meat shops. I live near CR Park. All the meat markets and fish shops have been closed for the past 10 days. The situation is terrifying.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj Responds
In response to Mahua Moitra's tweet, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj stated that the fish markets and shops allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) were not illegal.
"These fish shops were allotted by DDA, this is not any illegal encroachment. If BJP had problem with CR Park Bengalis eating fish, they should have said so in their manifesto," he said.
"Bengalis in CR Park are one of the most educated communities in Delhi. Their sentiments and eating habits must be respected. I am a vegetarian, and I never had problem with their eating habits, why is BJP creating problems in such a peaceful area ?," he added.
BJP Hits Back
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticised Mahua Moitra, asserting that Chittaranjan Park's fish markets were legally allotted and traders have respected temples.
"Everyone should respect sanctity of temples. CR Park fish markets traders have always respected temples. Fish markets have been legally allotted and they are the needs of the area. The fish traders mantain a high-level of cleanliness in the area and take regular part in socio-religious activities of Chittaranjan Park," he said, as quoted by India Today.
"The video posted on social media by Mahua Moitra seems to have been tailored by people with vested political interests to disturb community harmony in CR Park. I strongly condemned the matter and urged the Delhi Police to take action" he added.
