Delhi Polls: EC Gives Kejriwal Deadline To Justify Yamuna Poisoning Claims Or Face Action

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a response to Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), over his controversial allegations of Yamuna poisoning, which he equated to a "mass genocide" and an "act of war." The ECI has directed Kejriwal not to mix the issue of increased ammonia levels in the Yamuna with his serious claims of deliberate poisoning.

What EC Says

The Commission has granted Kejriwal an opportunity to explain why action should not be taken against him for making such inflammatory allegations, which could promote disharmony and public unrest. The ECI has specifically asked Kejriwal to provide factual evidence regarding the poisoning, such as details on the type, quantity, and methodology of the alleged poisoning, as well as information on Delhi Jal Board engineers who allegedly detected the contamination. The deadline for this is 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The ECI emphasized that ensuring the availability of clean water is a governance issue and that all concerned governments should prioritize this for the welfare of the public. The Commission refrained from intervening in long-standing water-sharing and pollution issues, especially given that Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal rulings already exist on the matter.

Kejriwal's Letter To EC

Kejriwal had previously filed a 14-page reply to the ECI, in which he argued that his statements regarding the toxic contamination of Yamuna water were made in the public interest. He claimed that the ammonia levels in raw water supplied by Haryana, which is ruled by the BJP, were so high that Delhi's water treatment plants were unable to make it safe for human consumption.

In his letter, Kejriwal said that his statements were intended to raise awareness about the severe health risks posed by the water contamination, particularly highlighting the imminent threat to public health. The BJP had filed a complaint over the matter, prompting the ECI's notice to Kejriwal.

"Statements were made in furtherance of an imperative public duty to highlight the severe toxicity and contamination of raw water received from Haryana, which presents an imminent and direct threat to public health," Kejriwal wrote in the letter.

Meanwhile, Delhi is set to vote on February 5 with counting scheduled to be held on February 8.