The Election Commission, unsatisfied with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal’s reply, asked him not to mix the issue of water poisoning and the presence of ammonia in Yamuna river. Kejriwal’s statements have kicked the hornets' nest. Not only was he asked for an explanation by the poll body, a court in Haryana summoned him on February 17 upon a complaint against his statements.
The poll body gave Kejriwal another chance to explain his charges against the Haryana government. The EC asked him to provide factual evidence with specific and pointed response on the type, quantity, nature and manner of poisoning of Yamuna.
Kejriwal has been asked to share details of engineers, location and methodology of detecting the "poison" by Delhi Jal Board staff by Friday 11 am. The poll body said if Kejriwal fails to provide the same, appropriate action would be taken.
The AAP chief, who was asked to respond by Wednesday 8 pm, told the commission that raw water received from the BJP-ruled state in the past has been "highly contaminated and extremely poisonous" for human health.
Kejriwal submitted a 14-page reply to the EC, and stated that such toxic water, if consumed by people, would lead to grave health hazard and fatality. He stated that his comments were intended to highlight an urgent public health crisis and did not violate any laws or the Model Code of Conduct. Kejriwal urged the issue to be closed, asserting his statements were made in his capacity as a public servant concerned about the severe toxicity and contamination of raw water from Haryana.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) backed Kejriwal, stating that the ammonia level in Yamuna water is significantly above permissible limits, as confirmed by a letter from the Delhi Jal Board CEO.
Kejriwal accused Haryana of failing to control pollution in the Yamuna, leading to a serious public health crisis in Delhi. He alleged that industrial waste was being indiscriminately discharged into the river by Haryana. As an upper-riparian state, Haryana's actions impact Delhi, which has no control over the water's toxicity levels.