City’s administration announced to perform puja of toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission on the first day of Navratri on October 10. However, the move has sparked a controversy among members of Hindu Mahasabha as they claim it hurts the Hindu sentiments.
Appealing to the district authorities, members of Hindu Mahasabha have asked to cancel the celebration and rather carry it on a social day, and not on a religious day. They have given given a memorandum to the officials asking to change the toilet puja to other day like Gandhi Jayanti or Republic Day instead of Navrati, which is a religious day.
As quoted by a national daily TOI, city president of Mahasabha, Shankar Sharma said “This is a social cause and it should not be connected with religion. The decision of performing puja on the first of Navratri hurts the sentiments of Hindus.
Another spokesperson Ashok Kumar Pandey said that “If they really want to do such things then they should approach other community members and use their festivals.” He further said that the district administration must apologise for it and cancel the event with immediate effects.
Counter the argument proposed by Hindu representatives, chief development officer Dinesh Chandra said that he did not agree with this perspective. “The CM and PM have given recognition to toilets as ‘izzatgher.” The idea behind the bbuja is to change the mindset of the people so they can accept toilets as something to be proud.
TOI reported that Nadal officers oppointed by the administration to visit over 1000 villages in 902 gram panchayats, will give Rs 101 as a reward to the best beneficiary foe their attempts in making toilets in villages.
