Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday (April 9) accused BJP workers of threatening Bengali residents and fish vendors in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), a Bengali-dominated locality in South Delhi. Moitra claimed that BJP cadre forced the closure of fish and meat shops near a temple in the area and shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) allegedly showing the incident.

“Terrorising Hindu fishmongers into shutting legal shops next to a temple they built – BJP goons caught on video but not yet arrested. Hello @DelhiPolice- Or are we all supposed to eat dhoklas and chant Jai Shri Ram?” Moitra said in a post on X.

In a video message, she also highlighted CR Park’s cultural identity: “Everybody has seen the horrifying visuals of the lumpen-BJP goons threatening the Bengalis in Chittaranjan Park in the heart of Delhi. Chittaranjan Park is a Bengali colony. Bengalis are a proud fish-eating people,” Moitra said in a video message posted on X on Wednesday.

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“The Kali temple and the temples there were built by the community. And this particular temple is built by the shopkeepers and the business community of the Chittaranjan Park. You can see how in broad daylight with complete impunity and audacity. The BJP’s goons are threatening shopkeepers and telling them they cannot have shops here. Is the BJP going to tell us what we are going to eat and where we have legal shops? Is the BJP going to tell us that we have to eat dhoklas and say ‘Jai Shri Ram’ three times a day?” she added.

In the clip shared by Moitra on X, a man wearing a saffron T-shirt is heard saying that setting up a fish market next to a temple is inappropriate. The location is believed to be Market No. 1 of CR Park, one of the upscale neighborhoods in Delhi.

‘Misleading video’: BJP seeks probe against TMC MP

However, BJP leaders have rejected Moitra’s claims, stating the video is misleading. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya called the footage “fake and fabricated,” accusing Moitra of attempting to stir communal unrest. Citing a ground report by journalist Shivam Pratap Singh, he said vendors at the DDA-approved fish market had denied facing any threats.

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“Mahua Moitra posted a video, ostensibly from CR Park in Delhi, alleging that certain individuals were threatening vendors in the DDA-approved fish market located next to a Mandir. The video is false and fabricated. It appears to have been shot with the intent to promote ill will among communities–and perhaps to distract from the ‘versatile international lady’ controversy that the TMC parliamentary party currently finds itself embroiled in. This has been debunked by a ground report conducted by journalist Shivam Pratap Singh. Regular devotees and vendors at the fish market have categorically denied any such intimidation,” Malviya said in a post on X.

Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva also condemned Moitra’s remarks, stating that traders in CR Park respect religious sentiments and that the fish market is both legal and integral to the area.

“Everyone should respect the sanctity of temples, and here at CR Park, fish market traders have always respected temples. Fish Markets have been legally alloted and need of the area. The fish traders maintain a high level of cleanliness in the area and take regular part in the socio-religious activities of CR Park. The video posted on social media by Smt. Mahua Moitra seems to have been tailored by people with vested political interests to disturb community harmony in CR Park. We strongly condemn the incident and request that the Delhi Police take stern action,” a press statement from the Delhi BJP President’s office said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police said they had received no formal complaints but confirmed the matter is under inquiry.