Protests over Fish Market near Kali Temple in Chittaranjan Park Spark Political Uproar in Delhi

A fish market in Chittaranjan Park, South Delhi, has sparked a political controversy following a viral video showing a group of people protesting the sale of fish next to a temple. The protesters argued that the market’s proximity to the Kali Temple, which locals claim has been there as long as the market itself, was offensive and hurtful to their religious sentiments.

In the video, a group of people can be seen telling the fish vendors that their activities are inappropriate. One man is heard saying, “This is not right. The surroundings of the temple should remain pure.” He further adds, “This is wrong. Sanatan says we cannot harm anyone,” arguing that there is no religious basis for offering meat to deities in Hinduism. “Serving meat to the Goddess is fictional,” he states, stressing that such practices are not supported by Hindu scriptures. While serving meat to deities is a common practice in many temples, especially in eastern India, the protestors in the video express their concerns over the market's proximity to the temple.

The video also features a conversation where a man discusses the potential legal battle to address the issue, stating, “If I fight this legally, it will be a long process. The main issue is that it looks wrong next to the temple. I can’t understand this.” He also brings up the idea of "jeevhatya" (the killing of living beings) being performed near the temple, which includes an idol of Lord Hanuman.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra shared the video on social media, accusing “BJP goons” of threatening fish-eating Bengalis in the area. “Never in 60 years has this happened, residents say,” Moitra wrote in a post on X, while claiming this situation was the result of the BJP government’s actions in Delhi.

Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also weighed in on the issue, stating that the fish shops were legally allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and not part of any illegal encroachment. He remarked, “If the BJP had a problem with CR Park Bengalis eating fish, they should have included it in their manifesto.” Bhardwaj, a vegetarian himself, added, “Bengalis in CR Park are one of the most educated communities in Delhi. Their sentiments and eating habits must be respected. I have never had a problem with their eating habits, so why is the BJP creating problems in such a peaceful area?” Chittaranjan Park falls within the Greater Kailash Assembly constituency, which Bhardwaj represented for three consecutive terms before losing to the BJP’s Shikha Roy in the recently conducted assembly elections.

BJP has strongly denied the allegations made by the opposition leaders, labelling the video shared by Mahua Moitra as “tailored” and part of an attempt to disturb the peace. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva issued a statement defending the fish traders, saying, “Fish markets have been legally allotted and are a necessity in the area. The fish traders maintain a high level of cleanliness and actively participate in the social and religious activities of CR Park.” He called on the Delhi Police to take strict action against those responsible for spreading the video, asserting, “The video posted by Smt. Mahua Moitra seems to have been orchestrated by people with vested political interests to disrupt community harmony in CR Park.”​