Delhi Election: Haryana CM Threatens Defamation Suit Against Kejriwal Over 'Water Poisoning' Claims

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday rejected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal's claim that BJP workers from the state were poisoning the Yamuna River, and threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against the AAP leader unless he issued an immediate apology to the people of Delhi and Haryana.

"Kejriwal should apologise to the people of Haryana and Delhi for these false and disgraceful statements, or else we will file a defamation suit against him," Saini told a news agency.

The Haryana CM remarked that making unfounded allegations and then avoiding accountability had become Kejriwal's habit.

"I said that you (Arvind Kejriwal) sent your chief secretary, and I will ask my chief secretary to check the quality of water at Sonipat, where the Yamuna enters Delhi," he said.

Saini also criticised Kejriwal's remarks on ammonia levels and water scarcity, stating there was no shortage of water, only issues with the distribution system. "He promised to manage the distribution of water for ten years, but still, people are receiving polluted water. Instead of making baseless allegations, he should focus on governance. The people of Delhi have made up their minds, and they will teach him a lesson," CM Saini added.

His comments followed Kejriwal's accusations that the ruling BJP in Haryana was allegedly poisoning the Yamuna River and sending it to Delhi.

Saini questioned the Delhi CM's claims, stating, "Kejriwal said that engineers from the Delhi Jal Board stopped the water from coming to Delhi after finding it poisoned. I want to ask him when this happened. How did the engineers conclude the water was poisoned? He should clarify how many tonnes of poison were added, how the water was stopped at the border, and where the water that was blocked went. How many fish died from this poisonous water?"

He further criticised Kejriwal for playing "cheap politics" and insulting the people of Haryana. "The people of Haryana consider the Yamuna a sacred river and worship it," Saini said.

Kejriwal had earlier accused the BJP of attempting to make Delhi's residents thirsty through dirty politics. "There is no greater sin than making people thirsty. For its dirty politics, the BJP wants to make the people of Delhi thirsty. BJP workers from Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi. If the people of Delhi drink this water, many will die..."

He went on to accuse the BJP of attempting "mass murder" but vowed that the Delhi AAP government would prevent this from happening.

Kejriwal's allegations were based on a social media post by Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Atishi, who claimed that the Yamuna water released by Haryana had dangerously high ammonia levels, which could cause the closure of three water treatment plants in Delhi.