The Haryana government is making preparations to file a defamation case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal following his accusations that the BJP-ruled state deliberately contaminated the Yamuna River with "poison" to disrupt Delhi’s water supply in the run-up to the elections. According to BJP sources, the party intends to escalate the issue by submitting a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the matter.
Despite the threat of legal action, Kejriwal remains defiant. He accused the BJP of playing political games with the crucial issue of water quality. “The BJP should not politicize water, it would be a sin. File a case against me. Hang me if you want, but I will not let the people of Delhi die. The BJP should not threaten me with cases. The people will curse the BJP. They want to kill the people of Delhi, but I will not let them drink poisonous water,” the AAP leader said, emphasizing that he would continue to fight for the welfare of Delhi's residents, irrespective of the BJP’s legal maneuvers. Kejriwal also took aim at Haryana's Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, telling him not to intimidate them with legal action and instead focus on providing clean water to the people of Delhi.
The verbal confrontation reached new heights on Monday when Kejriwal publicly raised allegations against the Haryana government during an election rally in Delhi. Citing high ammonia levels found in the Yamuna River, he accused the Haryana government of intentionally polluting the river. “The Delhi Jal Board officials suspected that something was wrong with the water coming from Haryana. When we tested it, we found that they had mixed poison. You want to kill the people of Delhi. Why did they do it? They thought that if a few people die in Delhi, all the blame would fall on me, to defame me and gain votes. Do you want to kill the people of Delhi?” Kejriwal charged, presenting the contamination as part of a larger political conspiracy designed to damage his credibility ahead of Delhi’s elections.
The BJP was quick to condemn Kejriwal's remarks. Haryana Chief Minister Saini responded by accusing the Delhi CM of losing his sense of balance, and demanded that he apologize to both the people of Haryana and Delhi for making what he termed as false and irresponsible statements. “The people of Haryana consider the Yamuna a holy river and worship it. Why would the people of Haryana mix poison into the river water? Arvind Kejriwal made a false promise in 2020 that if the Yamuna wasn’t saved from pollution, he would never ask for votes. Seeing the possible defeat in the elections, Kejriwal has lost his mental balance. Kejriwal should immediately apologize to the people of Haryana and Delhi, or else we will file a defamation case against him,” Saini said, strongly defending the actions of his state’s government and highlighting that such accusations were completely unfounded.
Adding to the political drama, Haryana Minister Shruti Chaudhary called Kejriwal's statements “irresponsible” and warned that such remarks could incite chaos and confusion. She further criticized the Delhi government for its failure to clean up the Yamuna, despite substantial funding being allocated by the Centre. “Despite the Rs 8,000 crore allocated by the central government for cleaning the Yamuna, Delhi has failed to deliver tangible results. It is not Haryana's responsibility to solve Delhi’s water issues,” Chaudhary said, attempting to shift the blame back to Kejriwal’s administration.
Amid the mounting controversy, the Election Commission has stepped in, ordering the Haryana government to provide a factual report by January 28 regarding the allegations that ammonia levels in the water supplied from Haryana to Delhi had risen. This directive followed a joint representation submitted by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, both of whom demanded urgent clarification from the Haryana government regarding the water quality.
As Delhi prepares for its assembly elections on February 5, the issue of water quality has become one of the focal points of the high-voltage election campaign. The accusation of poisoning the Yamuna has stirred deep emotions, especially in a city where access to clean water is a perennial concern. The bitter political battle surrounding the water issue has now reached the level of public debate, with both sides accusing the other of neglecting public welfare for political gain.
The controversy surrounding the Yamuna’s contamination will likely continue to play a pivotal role in the election campaign, with both the AAP and BJP using it as a means to garner support from the voters. Kejriwal’s dramatic claims have sparked intense reactions, not only from the BJP but also from various civil society groups and political analysts who are questioning the seriousness of the issue and the motives behind the allegations. As the election draws closer, this row will undoubtedly remain a key point of contention, shaping the discourse on governance, responsibility, and political trust.
