NEW DELHI: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday responded to the Election Commission over the allegations he made against BJP government in Haryana of ‘mixing poison in Yamuna water’. EC on Tuesday had served notice to Kejriwal, asking him to prove his claim to avoid legal troubles that could lead to three years of jail term.
In a 14-page letter signed by him, addressed to Election Commission secretary BC Patra, Kejriwal claimed that, “that the statement attributed to the undersigned was made in the context of an urgent and alarming public health crisis concerning the deteriorating quality of drinking water in Delhi, necessitating immediate institutional and governmental intervention.”
Further asserting his claims, Kejriwal said, “The alleged 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.”
“The raw water received from Haryana recently is highly contaminated and extremely poisonous for human health. That the contamination levels in the raw water are so extreme that the Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Delhi are unable to process it to bring it within safe and permissible limits,” the ex-Delhi CM added in his response.
Amid his direct allegations against BJP, Kejriwal emphasised that voicing concerns should not be treated as a criminal act, as such an approach would create a problematic pattern undermining governmental responsibility.
“It is impermissible, both legally and constitutionally, to criminalize the act of highlighting governmental lapses in ensuring the availability of safe water for the residents of Delhi. If raising legitimate concerns regarding a fundamental civic necessity – such as access to uncontaminated water – is misconstrued as an offence, it would set a dangerous precedent that undermines state accountability and erodes the very fabric of responsible governance,” the letter read.
Additionally, Kejriwal highlighted the serious health risks associated with elevated ammonia levels in water, noting specific conditions such as liver and kidney disorders, neurological complications, and encephalopathy.
As the row continues, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini refuted the accusations, earlier in the day, by taking a sip from the river in Delhi’s Palla village. Kejriwal countered Saini’s actions by claiming that he didn’t actually drink but “spat it out”.
Kejriwal has also been summoned by Sonipat court on February 17 over these claims.
