'Barged in, cut power': AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj claims Delhi Police harassing Bengali community in CR Par

NEW DELHI: Saurabh Bharadwaj has accused Delhi Police of harassing the Bengali community and Durga Puja committees in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), alleging that police personnel forcibly disconnected electricity at a pandal and damaged equipment. He also warned that restrictions on Puja celebrations could lead to overcrowding, drawing a parallel with the Kolkata stampede that killed 17 people on Saturday.

In a post on X addressed to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president claimed that the community and Puja organisers were facing unprecedented harassment.

Attention @LtGovDelhi saab, Delhi Police officers are harassing the Bengali community and CR Park Durga Puja Committees like never before. This community is one of the most decent and well-educated sections of Delhi,” he wrote.

Questioning the alleged disparity in the treatment of different cultural events, Bharadwaj referred to the Delhi government's position on allowing shops and businesses to operate round the clock and said most Ram Leela celebrations were permitted to continue past midnight.

When the Delhi Govt talks about 24x7 businesses and shops, and most Ram-leelas are allowed past midnight, why the stepmotherly treatment for the Bengali community?” he asked.