New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS): The BJP's Delhi unit Monday asked Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to ensure proper arrangements for Chhath Puja, and complained that the government was not "active" in making sufficient arrangements for the festival.

In a letter to Jung, the Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit chief Vijay Goel expressed concern that the Delhi government seems not to be making sufficient arrangements for the festival, which sees the participation of lakhs of people, especially "purvanchalis" (people who hail from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where Chhath is a major festival).

Delhi has a population of around 40 lakh purvanchalis.

"Delhi recently witnessed a tragic episode during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, when many lives were lost in the Yamuna because of the absence of proper safety measures. The government must ensure that a tragedy like the Ganesh Chaturthi one is not repeated as lakhs of devotees throng the Yamuna ghats during the festival," Goel said in a statement.

Goel also announced that the party, if it comes to power, will declare Chhath a public holiday.