AAP hits out at BJP after viral video shows beer party on Ganga

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday shared on X a clip showing a large group of men drinking beer and dancing to loud music on a boat, highlighting widespread claims that the scene was from a ferry in the Ganga in Varanasi. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party hit out at Uttar Pradesh's ruling BJP over the incident.

The video, which first surfaced on Monday, April 6, has triggered significant backlash as the River Ganga is considered highly sacred in Hinduism. The uproar has been sharp, with calls for legal action against the accused rising rapidly.

Insinuating that the BJP was responsible for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, the AAP, in its post, wondered if the authorities in Varanasi had granted "formal permission" for the party.

"This viral video is said to be from Varanasi, in which a DJ is playing on a large boat in the Ganga River and people are seen drinking alcohol and recording videos," the AAP wrote while sharing the viral video on X.

It added, "The question is: Has the Uttar Pradesh government and the Varanasi administration officially granted permission for such liquor parties on the Ganga River?"

Meanwhile, the police in Varanasi took cognisance of the viral clip and registered a case in connection with the boat party.

A senior official said that the viral video at the centre of the controversy was under investigation and efforts were underway to identify the people appearing in it.

At least one person has since been arrested, according to the police.

The controversial video showed members of Varanasi's boatmen community during a floating procession that was taken out as part of an annual ritual. The voyage purportedly took place on Sunday, April 5.

Last month, 14 Muslim persons were arrested by the police in Varanasi after a video purportedly showed a group of people holding an Iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga and consuming chicken biryani.

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(With inputs from Roshan Jaiswal)