Imran Masood Slams VHP's Chhath Puja Shops, Calls It Business in the Name of Religion

Congress MP Imran Masood has criticized the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for its decision to set up stalls during Chhath Puja in Delhi, calling the move a “commercial venture disguised as religion.” The VHP had announced that it would open stalls across the city to provide “pure and certified” puja materials to protect Hindus from what it termed “spit jihad” and similar threats.

Responding sharply, Masood said, “This is just a way of running a shop and selling goods; what does it have to do with religion?” He mocked the VHP’s claims of religious protection, saying, “If that’s the case, then geo-tag the products—find out which farm the crops were grown on, whose buffalo’s milk was used, and whether they belonged to a Hindu or Muslim.”

He further added, “Amul doesn’t sell milk based on religion. So will we now buy milk and flour after checking the farmer’s religion? The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is simply putting on a show.”

Meanwhile, the VHP’s Indraprastha unit maintains that the stalls—planned across all 30 districts of Delhi—are meant to provide devotees with traditional and authentic Chhath Puja materials. Critics, however, argue that the move is an attempt to stir communal tension and profit under the pretext of faith.