In this image released by @AamAadmiParty via X on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a public meeting in support of party candidate Gaurav Sharmaahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, in New Delhi.Photo: PTI In this image released by @AamAadmiParty via X on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a public meeting in support of party candidate Gaurav Sharmaahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, in New Delhi.Photo: PTI

A political storm erupted on Tuesday after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Haryana government of “poisoning” the Yamuna River, claiming that toxic water was being deliberately released into the river to harm Delhi’s residents. 

This led to sharp responses from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which condemned his remarks as “dangerous” and demanded that he retract the statement, even requesting the Election Commission (EC) bar him from campaigning for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

In response, Kejriwal refused to back down, asserting that he would not allow the people of Delhi to die from “poisonous” water. He alleged that the BJP-ruled Haryana was mixing poison into the water to frame the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the election. The Delhi Chief Minister's controversial statements came after rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna raised concerns about water quality in Delhi.

In a letter to Kejriwal, the EC sought by 8 pm on Wednesday the nature and extent of the chemicals used for “poisoning” the Yamuna which could have killed people in large numbers, as claimed by the AAP chief.

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It specifically asked him to provide details on the chemicals involved and whether the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) engineers had truly detected and prevented the flow of poisoned water, as claimed. 

The EC set a deadline for the submission of this information by Wednesday 8 pm. It also reminded Kejriwal that making “mischievous” statements could lead to legal consequences, including imprisonment.

The BJP mounted a fierce defence, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing Kejriwal of “dirty politics” and challenging him to release the DJB report he cited to support his claims. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar also dismissed the allegations, asserting that Haryana would never supply contaminated water to Delhi, a statement that only heightened tensions.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Atishi, calling Kejriwal’s remarks “highly objectionable” and accusing them of endangering national security. Atishi, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, met with EC officials, reiterating claims that Haryana was deliberately releasing ammonia into the Yamuna, thus jeopardizing Delhi’s water supply.

The confrontation escalated as BJP leaders, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Haryana CM Saini, called for legal action against Kejriwal, accusing him of creating unnecessary panic. Saini even threatened defamation proceedings unless Kejriwal apologised.

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Atishi defended her party’s position, stating that the ammonia levels in the Yamuna had reached dangerous levels, exceeding the filtration capacity of Delhi's water treatment plants. She expressed confidence that the EC would consider their concerns in the upcoming decision.

With the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, both the AAP and BJP are intensifying their rhetoric, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown as the results loom on February 8.

(With PTI inputs)jpwinner gaming