New Delhi: Political Row Erupts Over Fish Market Near Temple in Chittaranjan Park
A popular fish market in South Delhi’s upscale Chittaranjan Park neighborhood has become the center of a heated political controversy after a viral video showed individuals objecting to the sale of fish next to a temple, claiming it was hurting their religious sentiments.
The fish stalls in Market No. 1 of Chittaranjan Park attract customers from across the National Capital Region. Adjacent to these stalls is a Kali Temple, which residents say is as old as the market itself.
In the video, a group of people is seen confronting fish sellers, stating that selling fish near the temple is "not right" and that the temple’s surroundings should remain "pure." One man is heard saying, "This is wrong. Sanatan Dharma teaches us not to harm anyone." He also argues that offering meat to the Goddess is "fictional" and lacks any basis in Hindu scriptures. "Some people believe in this practice, but what is happening next to this temple is hurting the sentiments of Sanatanis like us," he added.
Offering meat to deities is a common practice in many temples across India, especially in eastern regions where several communities follow the Shakta tradition.
The video also shows the man claiming that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be held accountable. "The DDA cannot continue like this; we will correct their mistakes. The whole country is watching," he said.
Another protester in the video explains that the market’s shop owners established the temple decades ago. One of the protesters responds, "If I fight this legally, it will be a long process. The main issue is that it looks wrong next to the temple. I can’t understand this."
The video further shows a man questioning a customer about "jeevhatya" (the killing of living beings) near the temple, which also houses an idol of Lord Hanuman. The customer responds that such practices are common in many temples.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra shared the video on social media, accusing "BJP goons" of threatening fish-eating Bengalis. "Residents say this has never happened in 60 years," she wrote in a post on X. She added that this was a "gift" from the three-month-old BJP government in the national capital.
Sharing Moitra’s post, former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj stated that the fish shops were allotted by the DDA and are not part of any illegal encroachment. "If the BJP had a problem with Bengalis in CR Park eating fish, they should have mentioned it in their manifesto. 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’ve never had a problem with their eating habits. Why is the BJP creating issues in such a peaceful area?" he asked.
Chittaranjan Park falls under the Greater Kailash Assembly constituency, which Bhardwaj represented three times consecutively. He lost to BJP’s Shikha Roy in the February election, after which the BJP came to power.
The BJP has dismissed the opposition’s allegations, claiming that the video shared by Moitra is "tailored" and aimed at disrupting peace. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva stated that fish traders in Chittaranjan Park have always respected the temple’s sanctity.
"Fish markets have been legally allotted and are a necessity for the area. The fish traders maintain high levels of cleanliness and regularly participate in socio-religious activities in CR Park. The video posted by Mahua Moitra seems to have been manipulated by individuals with vested political interests to disturb community harmony. We strongly condemn this incident and urge the Delhi Police to take strict action," he said.
Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya also shared a video in which a journalist visits the market and asks locals if they had been threatened. In the video, the temple’s priest and others deny any such incident. Malviya wrote on X, "TMC MP Mahua Moitra posted a video, ostensibly from CR Park in Delhi, alleging that certain individuals were threatening vendors in the DDA-approved fish market located next to a temple. The video is false and fabricated. It appears to have been shot with the intent to promote ill will among communities—and perhaps to distract from the ‘versatile international lady’ controversy that the TMC parliamentary party is currently embroiled in."
The controversy has sparked a broader debate about religious sentiments, cultural practices, and political motivations in the area.
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