Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders are preparing to bring contaminated Yamuna water to the BJP headquarters on Thursday, following serious allegations made by AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal has claimed that the Yamuna water, flowing from Haryana, contains 7 parts per million (ppm) of ammonia, posing a significant public health risk. He accused the BJP-led Haryana government of contributing to what he termed as a “genocide” by poisoning the river.
In response to these allegations, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has intervened, urging Kejriwal to separate his claims of mass genocide from the ammonia contamination issue. The poll body has given Kejriwal a deadline of Friday morning to provide detailed evidence supporting his allegations, including the type and quantity of poisoning and the role of Delhi Jal Board engineers in detecting the contamination. The ECI has also warned that failure to provide the required evidence may result in appropriate action.
Kejriwal, however, has defended his statements, arguing that his intention was to raise awareness about the harmful toxicity in the Yamuna water, which he claims poses an immediate and severe threat to public health. On Wednesday, Kejriwal reiterated his stance, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the contamination and its implications.
Meanwhile, both the BJP and Congress have lodged complaints with the Election Commission, accusing Kejriwal of making baseless and inflammatory claims. The ECI, in its response, highlighted the importance of cooperative governance in ensuring clean water access and emphasized that existing legal frameworks, such as those from the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal, should guide any actions taken concerning water-sharing and pollution, especially during the election period.
