Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference after meeting Election Commissioners, at party office, in New Delhi, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Photo: PTI Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference after meeting Election Commissioners, at party office, in New Delhi, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Photo: PTI

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal visited the Election Commission (EC) office on Friday, submitting his response to the poll body’s notice concerning his controversial remark about “poison mixed” in the Yamuna water. 

Kejriwal, who was accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, visited without a prior appointment. However, the EC accepted the meeting as a “special case” due to the ongoing Delhi Assembly election campaign, according to sources within the Commission.

Yamuna Water Row: EC Asks Kejriwal To 'Not Mix Issue Of Increased Ammonia' In Poisoning Charge

The Election Commission had issued a notice earlier this week asking Kejriwal to explain his claims that the BJP-led Haryana government had intentionally polluted the Yamuna water with high levels of ammonia. The EC demanded a response by 11 am on Friday.

During his visit, Kejriwal reiterated that his comments about the Yamuna being “poisoned” were in reference to the unprecedented levels of ammonia in the water supplied to Delhi from Haryana. He emphasised that his statements were not intended to accuse any party of malicious intent but were meant to highlight a serious environmental and public health crisis.

In his detailed response, Kejriwal explained the context of his remarks, which were made after ammonia levels in the Yamuna surged to dangerous levels, reaching 7 parts per million (ppm) in late January. This contamination posed a serious risk to public health and led to widespread concerns in Delhi about water quality.

CM Saini Drinks Yamuna Water; Haryana Court Summons Arvind Kejriwal Over 'Poisoned Water' Remark

The Delhi CM stressed that despite repeated attempts to engage with Haryana’s government to resolve the issue, no meaningful action had been taken, fueling his suspicions of a political conspiracy to undermine the AAP government ahead of the elections.

“I want to congratulate the people of Delhi that our struggle has been successful and the ammonia level in Yamuna which was 7 ppm since January 26-27 has now come down to 2.1 ppm now,” Kejriwal said, adding that he believed the crisis had been artificially engineered to create a water shortage and tarnish the AAP’s image during the election period.

Kejriwal also raised the issue of political interference, accusing the Haryana government of intentionally exacerbating the water contamination issue to influence the Delhi elections. He described this as a “manufactured crisis” aimed at defaming the AAP.

The Election Commission, in response to Kejriwal’s statement, gave him a patient hearing. The sources said that the Commission wanted to ensure that there was no scope for complaints from stakeholders during the peak of the election campaign.

AAP defends Kejriwal’s statements

Following the meeting, AAP MP Sanjay Singh told reporters that Kejriwal had provided the EC with a detailed explanation of his comments. He claimed that the AAP chief had outlined how the BJP had conspired to send polluted water to Delhi, which could have had disastrous consequences for the city's residents.

Ahmad Nadeem, standing right on the left edge of the goal mouth, found the ball from inside the D just in the sixth minute of the opening whistle. He was in the perfect position to execute a slight deflection into the Indian goal and that is what he did to push Pakistan ahead in the match.

However, Kejriwal’s remarks have attracted criticism from some quarters. Prior to his visit to the EC office, the Delhi CM accused the poll body of “shooting the messenger” and taking action against the AAP for merely raising concerns about the water crisis. He suggested that the EC's notices reflected a predetermined stance on the matter.

Kejriwal’s comments on the Yamuna water contamination have sparked a political storm, with the AAP alleging that the BJP was behind the move to manipulate public perception during the crucial election period. 

He stressed that the ammonia contamination was not just an environmental issue but also a calculated move to disrupt the Delhi government’s functioning and hamper the party's electoral prospects.

panalobet

(With PTI inputs)22win