New Delhi:
The AAP and the BJP continue to bicker as the clock ticks towards next week’s Delhi Assembly elections, with former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal now accusing the latter of “mixing poison” into the city’s water supply, in an attempt to “create chaos.” Hoping the blame falls” on his party’s administration.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said the BJP had done “something that has perhaps never been done in history”. He claimed that the saffron party, in power in neighboring Haryana, had added a poisonous substance to the Yamuna river that flows through that state and flows into the national capital.
“People of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh… but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here… it is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board Engineers that this water was stopped.”
“(The supposedly poisoned water) was stopped at the Delhi border… we did not allow it to enter the city. We have seen things like this in wars, but today, what the BJP did by mixing poison in Delhi’s water supply , is an attempt to create chaos in Delhi, in the hope that the blame will fall on the AAP.”
Delhi: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says, “In the upcoming elections in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done something that perhaps has never been done in history. People of Delhi get safe drinking water of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Government of Haryana,… pic.twitter.com/vswQA87M7h
– IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2025
The “poison” Kejriwal was referring to is reportedly ammonia.
High levels of ammonia in the Yamuna have been a problem as the Delhi government strives to ensure a clean, round-the-clock water supply for the city’s residents; According to some reports, the capital needs more than 3 billion liters of water a day, while the usual supply is only about 2,000 MLD.
The deficit has been exacerbated by high levels of ammonia, the AAP said.
BJP criticizes ‘baseless’ accusations
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has denied Kejriwal’s claim. “It is their nature and their mindset to accuse and run away…” he said at an event in Chandigarh.
Chandigarh: Regarding Aam Aadmi Party’s allegations that Haryana is supplying toxic water to Delhi, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, “It is their nature and thinking to accuse and run away…” pic.twitter.com/JO3L8juyvk
– IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2025
Saini’s rebuttal was backed, more strongly, by Labor Minister Anil Vij. “Arvind Kejriwal is a lie factory…take journalists and experts to the place where the Yamuna enters Delhi and check the water quality. Then check in Delhi…they will see the difference,” he said.
#LOOK | Chandigarh: Haryana Minister Anil Vij says, “Arvind Kejriwal is a factory of lies… Take all journalists and analysts to the place where Yamuna enters Delhi and check the water quality, and then check the quality of the water in Delhi. They will see the difference. pic.twitter.com/bJiJtaPLXj
— AIN (@ANI) January 27, 2025
“It is not our job to check the cleanliness of the river in Delhi… it was Kejriwal’s, which he could not do.”
The Electoral Commission wants a report
Meanwhile, AAP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann met the Election Commission today to lodge this complaint. The poll body has sought a detailed report from the Haryana government tomorrow noon i.e. January 28.
The debate on the cleanliness and drinkability of Yamuna water is of particular importance now as these were assurances made by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal before the 2020 Delhi elections.
However, none of the promises have been fulfilled and Mr. Kejriwal is aware of this problem.
READ | Arvind Kejriwal on three Delhi promises he ‘could not keep’
Last week he admitted to Delhi voters that he had failed to ensure Yamuna’s water was clean and drinkable, but insisted this will become a reality if his AAP is voted into a third consecutive term.
“I am sincere in my promises. Either I keep them or I admit that I promised but couldn’t keep them. I couldn’t keep three promises: clean the Yamuna, provide drinking water and make Delhi’s roads meet European standards,” Mr. said. Kejriwal at a rally in Delhi’s Laxmi Bai Nagar.
He repeated that admission – a tactic seen as an attempt to ease the BJP’s attacks on the issue – this morning when he released another section of his party’s pre-election manifesto.
BJP targets Kejriwal for Yamuna
Unfortunately for the AAP, Mr Kejriwal’s recognition has not stopped the BJP’s attacks. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was hit while taking a dip in the Ganga today during the Maha Kumbh.
READ | “Take that world-famous dip”: Yamuna Dare To Kejriwal by Amit Shah
“He [Mr Kejriwal] promised that he would purify the Yamuna River in seven years and make it like the Thames River in London,” Shah said at a rally.
#LOOK | #DelhiElections2025 | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “He promised that he would purify the Yamuna river in 7 years and make it like London’s Thames river… He even said that he would take a dip in the Yamuna in front of the people of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, the people of Delhi… pic.twitter.com/44rsVKJy5m
— AIN (@ANI) January 25, 2025
“He even said that he would take a dip in the Yamuna in front of the people of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, people of Delhi are waiting for your world famous dip in the Yamuna. If it is not in Yamuna, you can go to the Mahakumbh and take a dip there to get rid of their sins,” Mr. Shah said.
According to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee report from October 2023, several projects to clean the river are behind schedule. The report submitted before the National Green Tribunal drew special attention to the delays of the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Development Authority.
This is not the first time that a BJP leader has challenged Kejriwal to take a dip in the polluted stretch. Earlier, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused him of “turning the holy Yamuna into a dirty drain”.
With contributions from agencies
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