New Delhi: As the Delhi Assembly election nears, a war of words continues between the AAP and BJP, with former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accusing the BJP of deliberately contaminating the city’s water supply. Kejriwal said that the Haryana government, led by the BJP, added a poisonous substance to the Yamuna river, which flows from Haryana into Delhi. He said that this move was intended to create chaos and shift the blame to his government.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kejriwal said, “The 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.” He further praised the vigilance of Delhi Jal Board engineers for preventing the contaminated water from entering the capital.
Ammonia chokes water supply: Kejriwal
The substance in question, according to Kejriwal, is ammonia, which has been a persistent issue in the Yamuna river, impacting the city’s water supply. Delhi faces a major water shortfall, needing over 3,000 million litres per day, while the usual supply is about 2,000 MLD. The high ammonia levels have worsened the problem, according to AAP.
In response, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini denied Kejriwal’s accusations. He called them a typical attempt to deflect blame. Haryana’s Labour Minister Anil Vij further rejected the claims. He challened Kejriwal to show the difference in water quality between the Yamuna entering Delhi and the water supplied within the city.
Poll promise under scrutiny
The dispute comes in the backdrop of promises made by Kejriwal during the 2020 Delhi elections, where he pledged to clean the Yamuna and ensure drinkable water for residents. However, these promises remain unfulfilled. Last week, Kejriwal admitted his failure in delivering on these assurances, but reiterated his commitment to fulfilling them if re-elected. In the latest development, AAP leaders met with the Election Commission to file a formal complaint, prompting the poll body to seek a report from the Haryana government by January 28.
