NewDelhi: In a direct letter to Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and former Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, the Election Commission of India has asked for proof of spreading ‘Yamuna poisoning’ and poisonous water’ allegations against the BJP-led government of Haryana. This allegation has drawn strong condemnation from BJP and Congress in the midst of an acrimonious election campaign in Delhi.
Some serious allegations were levelled of poisoning the Yamuna River and mass genocide, and the Election Commission has sought factual proof of such serious accusations from Kejriwal. The poll panel said there are several judicial pronouncements and legal provisions under which making statements that threaten national integration and public harmony are punishable with up to three years in jail.
Tensions over water shortages — real or perceived — could lead to enmity between regional groups and residents of neighbouring states, which “may jeopardise law and order in these countries,” it noted. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been ordered to reply before 8 pm on January 29, 2025, to these complaints based on facts and the law so that the Commission can look into the issue and take the necessary steps.
In a related development, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Atishi, stating that Kejriwal’s allegations were highly objectionable and a threat to national security. Saxena also said Kejriwal’s allegations of “poison” being added to the water of the Yamuna and an “attempt of genocide” in Delhi are false, causing confusion and creating panic and dangerous consequences.
In its letter, Saxena also noted that instead of reprimanding Kejriwal for making the remarks, Atishi deepened the public confusion and fear by writing to the Election Commission over the issue. The Delhi Chief Minister should rise above narrow interests and stop making baseless statements, and the AAP convenor should also do the same in the interests of public welfare and peace,” he said.
Kejriwal’s sensational allegation gave a cruel political edge to Delhi’s water problem. In a blistering post on X, he accused the Haryana government of waging “biological warfare,” claiming that “poison is being mixed into the Yamuna to render its water toxic.” If the people of Delhi drink this water, many will die,” he said. “This is nothing less than mass murder.”
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