CR Park Durga Puja: AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj Warns of Stampede Risk Over Reduced Pandal Timings
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj slams Delhi Police for reducing CR Park Durga Puja pandal timings, warning it could lead to overcrowding and stampedes.
A heated row has erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Delhi Police over the operating hours of Durga Puja pandals in the iconic Chittaranjan Park (CR Park). AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bhardwaj has raised a red flag, warning that restricting the timings of the festivities could lead to dangerous overcrowding and increase the risk of a stampede.
Concerns Over Reduced Visiting Hours
Taking to social media, Saurabh Bhardwaj expressed his concern over a sudden change in the rules governing the pandals. He pointed out that in previous years, the pandals were permitted to remain open until 12:00 AM. However, he alleged that the Delhi Police has now mandated a closure time of 10:00 PM, effectively cutting the evening window by two hours.
Bhardwaj argued that this decision ignores the reality of how people visit the festivities. He noted that most devotees and visitors arrive in the evening, as the weather in Delhi becomes more pleasant and people finish their professional commitments for the day.
Warning of Chaos and Safety Risks
The AAP leader warned that by compressing the visiting window, the authorities are inadvertently creating a safety hazard. He argued that when lakhs of people attempt to visit the pandals in a shorter timeframe, it will inevitably lead to increased chaos.
"Now, within those two hours less, the same lakhs of people have to visit the pandals, so you have increased the crowd and chaos there. You have intentionally created a situation where, God forbid, if a stampede happens here, like in Bengal, who will you register a case against? You will register a case against the puja committee! The police have no responsibility," Bhardwaj stated in a video.
Allegations of Police High-Handedness
Beyond the timing dispute, Bhardwaj leveled serious allegations against the Delhi Police, claiming that officers had behaved aggressively. He alleged that police personnel forcefully entered a puja pandal and damaged equipment by cutting wires.
He appealed to the Delhi Government, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Police Commissioner to stop disrupting the arrangements. He urged the authorities to let the peaceful community celebrate their festival without interference, stating that if the police cannot improve the existing systems, they should at least not "mess them up."
Delhi Police Response: Noise Pollution Rules
The Delhi Police have firmly rejected these allegations. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South Delhi, clarified that the intervention was not intended to obstruct the festivities but to enforce court-mandated rules regarding noise pollution.
In a post on X, the DCP stated that certain organisers had continued to play loud music past the permitted time, despite having agreed to the regulations during prior meetings. The police maintained that their primary goal is to ensure safe festivities for everyone and urged the organisers and the public to cooperate for a peaceful celebration.