Delhi Govt holds three-day Ramlila event

New Delhi, January 20

In anticipation of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, cities and states across the nation are holding various concurrent events and programmes. The AAP-led Delhi Government is also organising a three-day Ramlila event in the national capital.

Can’t hold religious events there: BJP

Expressing surprise over the controversy over the venue selection, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said the refusal to allot Bharat Mandapam for the Ramlila was in line with their policy against hosting religious events at the venue.

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Scheduled from Saturday to the day of the consecration on Monday, the free-to-attend Ramlila takes place at Pyarelal Bhawan in ITO from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Initially, there was a clash between AAP and the Opposition BJP regarding the event’s venue. The AAP had originally planned to host the Ramlila at Bharat Mandapam, whose refusal had sparked controversy.

Saurabh Bhardwaj, the Minister of Art, Culture and Language in Delhi, emphasised the importance of respecting all religions equally.

He said: “It won’t be right if you give the right to all religions to one party. As far as religion is concerned, we have a clear say that all religions are equal and all religions should be respected.”

The controversy over the venue selection prompted reactions from Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor. Expressing surprise, Kapoor clarified that the refusal to allot Bharat Mandapam for the Ramlila was in line with their policy against hosting religious events.

He pointed out that even in December, he had attempted to book the venue for a religious function, but due to policy constraints, the request had been declined. Kapoor said organising the programme in an auditorium reaching fewer than two thousand people for a population exceeding two crore seemed inadequate.