Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has responded to the Election Commission's notice regarding his statements about the contamination of Yamuna water.
In his submission, Kejriwal emphasized the role of Haryana in the crisis, asserting that Haryana's failure to control pollution has led to an unprecedented public health emergency.
He cited a letter from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO, which admits that the ammonia level in Yamuna water is 700% higher than the permissible limit, with a concentration of 7 ppm (parts per million).
Kejriwal pointed out that the primary cause identified in the DJB's letter is the "indiscriminate discharge of industrial waste by Haryana," further arguing that the water's toxicity, if allowed for human consumption, would lead to severe health risks and fatalities.
He also clarified that the Delhi government had no involvement in the pollution, as Haryana, an upper-riparian state, is responsible for the water supply. According to Kejriwal, due to the high level of toxins in the water from Haryana, the city's water treatment plants (WTPs) are operating below capacity, resulting in a shortage of treated water in Delhi.
Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal accused the BJP of deliberately contaminating the city's water supply to create chaos and tarnish his administration’s reputation. He also claimed that the water supplied to Delhi from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had been poisoned, but that the vigilance of Delhi Jal Board engineers had prevented it from reaching the public.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected Kejriwal's allegations, mocking the idea that a BJP-led government would intentionally poison its own people.
Haryana Chief Minister also dismissed the claims, labeling Kejriwal's accusations as lies. In a provocative move, he drank water from the Yamuna near the Delhi border to prove its safety, criticizing Kejriwal for spreading falsehoods.
Amid the growing political controversy, the Haryana Chief Minister demanded an apology from Kejriwal, suggesting that while the Yamuna’s water was fine, Kejriwal's mind was "poisoned."
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