The Election Commission has ordered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal to submit “factual evidence” by 11 am on Friday to substantiate his claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government deliberately poisoned Yamuna River water, allegedly attempting “genocide” in Delhi.
EC Questions Kejriwal’s Allegations
The poll body directed Kejriwal to clarify crucial points, including the nature of the alleged ‘poison,’ the method of its detection, and supporting scientific data. The Commission dismissed Kejriwal’s initial submission—a social media post citing Delhi Jal Board data—stating it lacked concrete evidence to back his severe allegations.
Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/MYomQ4tfoj
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 30, 2025
While the EC acknowledged reports of increased ammonia levels in the Yamuna, it stated that governance-related issues would be handled by the appropriate authorities and distanced itself from AAP’s “deliberate act of water terrorism” claim.
EC Cites Risk of Public Disorder
The EC rebuked Kejriwal, stating that his “widely circulated statement equating the alleged poisoning to an act of war” lacked factual and legal grounding. The Commission further warned that such allegations, especially in the middle of an election campaign, could “endanger peace and harmony between states” and cause “public disorder and unrest.”
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The controversy erupted after Kejriwal accused the BJP of contaminating Delhi’s water supply to create chaos and deflect blame onto AAP. Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi amplified these claims, accusing the BJP of “water terrorism” and citing ammonia levels 700 times the permissible limit.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini hit back, calling Kejriwal’s statements “blatantly false and disgusting,” and demanded an apology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally, dismissed the allegations, questioning why his party would poison water that he himself drinks daily.
Dramatic Response from Haryana CM
In a bid to counter Kejriwal’s claims, Saini released a video showing himself drinking water directly from the Yamuna at a Delhi village. AAP quickly alleged that the video was misleading, claiming he spat out the water instead of swallowing it. BJP’s Haryana unit countered by accusing Kejriwal of sharing an “edited” video.
ALSO READ: Haryana court summons Arvind Kejriwal over Yamuna poisoning allegation
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also weighed in, reminding Kejriwal of his 2020 election promise to drink from the Yamuna once it was clean. The controversy has intensified ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, with a case being filed against Kejriwal in a Haryana court.
In a surprising twist, the Delhi Jal Board denied Kejriwal’s claim about ‘poison’ in the Yamuna. However, Atishi suggested the board chief may have been pressured by the BJP, through the Lieutenant Governor’s office, into issuing this statement.
