BJP sets stage for Delhi’s first festival season under its govt; reaches out to Ramlila, Durga Puja organisers

While CM Rekha Gupta laid the foundation stone for two Ramlilas at Shalimar Bagh, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh addressed a meeting of Durga Puja samitis.

Written by Saman Husain

August 25, 2025 01:40 PM IST

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at ‘Vastrika 2025' in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at her first public appearance after the attack in Delhi. (Source: PTI)

With preparations for Ramlila and Durga Puja beginning in the National Capital, the BJP on Sunday set the stage for Delhi’s first festive season under its government with a parallel outreach to the organisers of both celebrations.

At Shalimar Bagh, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta laid the foundation stone for two Ramlilas, calling them “not merely religious events but a source of inspiration for living a meaningful life.” Linking her governance agenda to the Ramayana, she said: “The establishment of Ram Rajya signifies governance that is just, transparent, and centred on the welfare of the people. Lord Ram has entrusted me with the responsibility of leading Delhi on this path.”

The chief minister, who has returned to her usual schedule of attending public events following a recent attack on her during a ‘Jan Sunwai’ event, said she has drawn strength from “the blessings of Lord Ram and the affection of the people.”

Gupta said the celebrations will be more magnificent and spiritually uplifting than ever before. “To make the organisation process smoother, a district-level single-window system led by the district magistrate has been introduced for all permissions,” she said.

“The land security deposit for Ramlila performances has been reduced from Rs 20 per square metre to Rs 15 per square metre. Additionally, the area earmarked for entertainment facilities alongside Ramlila performances has been restricted to 40 per cent of the allotted land,” she announced.

Earlier in the day, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh joined the bhoomi pujan of the Nav Shri Dharmik Leela Committee at the Red Fort grounds. Sachdeva later addressed a meeting of Durga Puja samitis, organised by the party’s Bengal cell, alongside former MP Locket Chatterjee.

“Whether it is Ramlila or Durga Puja, both symbolise the victory of truth over falsehood and represent India’s religious and social greatness,” Sachdeva said. He assured the samitis that they will receive all necessary administrative support on time.”

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The outreach comes in the wake of recent controversies in the Capital. In April, soon after the BJP took charge, a fish market in south Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park — a neighbourhood with a large Bengali population — was at the centre of a row after a viral video showed objections being raised to the sale of fish near a temple.

Last month, the disconnection of electricity at Jai Hind Camp in Vasant Kunj over allegations of power theft escalated into a political flashpoint after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Delhi government of “vendetta politics.”

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