• Source:JND
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Durga Puja 2025: With just a few days remaining in the Durga Puja, a major controversy erupted in Delhi after the Aam Admi Party (AAP) alleged that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed the organisers to place pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the pandals, along with Durga idols. While replying to the allegations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that AAP has no right of "giving lectures", further claiming that pictures of AAP convenor and ex-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal were used in Chhath Puja. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), asked whether Bengalis will be forced to worship PM Modi along with Durga.

"CM Rekha Gupta asking to Place PM’s photo near to Goddess Durga’s idol in Puja Pandals is blasphemy. BJP mustn’t play with Hindus’ faith to run its political shop; Playing PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat at Ramlila bhoomi pujan was also wrong. Bengali community will not accept CM Rekha Gupta’s ‘Tughlaqi farman’; It has deeply angered entire Bengali community," Bhardwaj stated in his post. While replying to the allegations, BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva stated that the opposition party should not lecture on ethics.

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"Saurabh Bhardwaj should not be the one to lecture us on this," Sachdeva was quoted as saying by NDTV. "We had seen on social media how during Chhat Puja, they had put Arvind Kejriwal's photos. And the Trinamool Congress, whom AAP worships -- their leader was threatening pandal organisers that funds won't be given if Didi's photo is not put," he added.

Earlier in 2021, the ruling party in West Bengal, TMC, was accused of threatening puja organisers to put CM Mamata Banerjee's pictures in the pandals. Sachdeva also stated that the ruling party will also organise "Seva Pakhwada" from September 17 (PM Modi's birthday) to October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary).

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