New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing row over the 'poisoning' of the Yamuna River waters, the Election Commission on Tuesday asked AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal to substantiate with facts his grave allegations of poisoning of Yamuna River and mass genocide.
In a letter sent to the former Delhi chief minister, the EC also cited various judicial pronouncements and legal provisions that can lead to up to three years imprisonment for mischievous statements against national integration and public harmony.
The Commission noted that such allegations have serious ramifications of creating enmity between the regional groups, and residents of the neighbouring States, and threat of a law-and-order situation due to actual or perceived shortage or non-availability of water, during this time of the year.
The Commission has directed Kejriwal to furnish his response to the complaints, especially on the factual and legal matrix along with evidentiary support thereof by 8 pm on 29th January, 2025, so as to enable the Commission to examine the matter and take action as appropriate.
The EC sought the nature and extent of the chemicals used for "poisoning" the Yamuna which could have killed people in large numbers, as claimed by the AAP chief. It also asked Kejriwal to share details of his claim that engineers of Delhi Jal Board had detected and prevented it on time.
Both the BJP and Congress had complained to the poll panel against Kejriwal for levelling allegations of poisoning of Yamuna river. Separately, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi had alleged that rising ammonia levels in the water supplied to Delhi by Haryana could seriously affect the water supply to the national capital. The EC is also awaiting a factual report from the Haryana government on the issue.
Meanwhile, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Atishi, saying her party chief's remarks are highly objectionable and amount to endangering national security.
On the other hand, Atishi and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann met the Election Commission officials, alleging the BJP-led Haryana government is deliberately releasing alarming levels of ammonia into the Yamuna river, endangering Delhi's water supply.
A BJP delegation, led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, approached the EC seeking its direction to bar Kejriwal from campaigning for the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls for his "dangerous statement" with implications for India's federal structure. The delegation requested the EC to ask Kejriwal to retract his charge and apologise for creating "panic" among people. They also demanded legal action against him.
Earlier, during the day, addressing a public meeting in the Kalakaji constituency on Tuesday, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah dared Kejriwal to make public the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) report which he cited to level the charge. Noting that the AAP chief had also claimed that he saved the people of Delhi by stopping the "poisonous" Yamuna water from entering Delhi, Shah asked him to show the official order issued in this regard.
Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini threatened to file a defamation suit against him if he did not apologise. Hitting back at Saini, the AAP supremo said on Tuesday the Haryana CM should not play politics on the issue. "It is sinful, you will face the curse of the people." (with PTI inputs)
Read More:
1. Delhi Polls: How Influential Is Jat Votebank, What Will Be Their Impact On Parties' Chances?
