Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has come to the defense of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath attacked Kejriwal over the pollution in the Yamuna river. Yadav’s sharp remarks were made after Adityanath, while campaigning for the BJP in Delhi ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, accused Kejriwal of turning the Yamuna into a “dirty drain.”
Akhilesh Yadav’s Strong Reaction
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at Adityanath, questioning whether the Uttar Pradesh CM would dare to drink water from the Yamuna river in Mathura, where the river is severely polluted.
“Before challenging others, people should dare sip water from the Yamuna, which flows through Mathura in their state,” Yadav posted, without naming the UP CM.
“Those who challenge others should do ‘Aachman’ with Yamuna’s water flowing through Mathura in their state,” he added.
Yadav’s comments came in response to Adityanath’s earlier remarks accusing Kejriwal of being responsible for the pollution of the Yamuna river in Delhi, which allegedly affects the water quality flowing into Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Mathura-Vrindavan.
Yogi Adityanath’s Attack on Kejriwal
Yogi Adityanath, during an election rally in Delhi’s Kirari area, slammed Kejriwal for what he called a failure in cleaning up the Yamuna. The Uttar Pradesh CM alleged that the polluted water from Delhi’s Yamuna was causing immense hardship for the devotees and residents of Mathura-Vrindavan.
Adityanath went further to challenge Kejriwal and his ministers:
“He should answer if he has moral courage,” Adityanath said, questioning whether Kejriwal and his ministers could bathe in the polluted Yamuna like his own cabinet members had done during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
Political Context: INDIA Bloc and Delhi Assembly Elections
Akhilesh Yadav’s sharp rebuttal comes at a politically sensitive time, as his Samajwadi Party and Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are both part of the opposition’s INDIA bloc, formed ahead of the 2024 general elections. Despite their alliance at the national level, the two parties are locked in competition for Delhi’s legislative power.
The Delhi Assembly elections will take place on February 5, 2025, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8, 2025. 699 candidates are contesting for 70 assembly seats in Delhi.
Yamuna Pollution as a Political Issue
The Yamuna river’s severe pollution has become a central issue in Delhi’s politics, with ongoing debates about the government’s responsibility in cleaning and conserving the river. Kejriwal’s AAP government has been criticized for its inability to resolve the long-standing pollution issues, while opposition leaders continue to leverage the problem for political gains.
As the Delhi elections approach, the Yamuna river remains not only an environmental concern but also a key political flashpoint in the battle for power.
