Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Nitin Nabin inaugurate 11-km Chhath ghat along Munak Canal
BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated an 11-km-long Chhath Puja ghat along the Munak Canal in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh, news agency PTI reported.
The Delhi government has revamped a dry stretch of the canal and provided changing rooms, toilets, lighting and other facilities for devotees. A road-widening project along the canal was also inaugurated.
At the event, Nabin criticised the previous AAP government over the alleged 'sheeshmahal' and contrasted it with the BJP government's work for devotees.
"The previous government was busy building sheeshmahal for themselves and getting medical treatment using public money. Now, the BJP government is working on building Chhath ghats across the city. In just 20 months, the Delhi government is fulfilling its promises," he said while addressing a gathering. @NitinNabin 11 - ‘ , ’ , , , @hdmalhotra #ViksitDelhi— CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) November 12, 2026
The Flagstaff bungalow, where former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lived from 2015 to 2024, was called 'sheeshmahal' by the BJP during the February 2025 Assembly polls as it levelled corruption allegations against the AAP and its national convener.
Nabin also criticised those who, he alleged, had questioned India's religious traditions and culture.
"There was a time when people used to raise questions about Sanatan traditions, Indian worship methods and Indian culture. There were even people here who had questioned the very existence of Lord Ram. What would they understand of Ganga, Chhathi and Yamuna Maiya?" he said.
"For them, it is just river water or a pond. But for us, it is a matter of worship and devotion," he added.
Gupta said she would take part in the Chhath Puja celebrations and that special arrangements had been made this year to ensure every family could celebrate the festival with devotion, dignity and convenience.
"The previous government did not pay attention to this area. Today, your kamal ki sarkar has done it. Wherever there is a double-engine government in the country, development has moved forward. The entire Cabinet is working together for the improvement of the city. We are working 24x7 in the national capital, and all our ministers are experts in their domains," Gupta said.
She said the government was also working to ease congestion in the city and was constructing a road from Shalimar Bagh to UER-2 to help reduce traffic.
Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma said the Munak Canal stretch had been revamped after years of neglect.
"The Purvanchali community has built this city with its sweat. For years, this stretch of the canal lay dry and neglected, choked with silt, garbage and a foul smell. People crossed it holding their breath. Today, the same place has proper steps, lighting and a wide road, and more than 30,000 people can gather here at one time," Verma said.
Delhi Jal Board officials told PTI that water would be released from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant into the Munak Canal to provide clean water and uninterrupted flow for devotees during Chhath Puja.
The project includes an 11-km Chhath Puja ghat, facilities for devotees and a widened road along the Munak Canal, while water is to be released into the canal during the festival.- Ends
