Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his response to the Election Commission (EC) on Friday, defending his controversial claim that “poison was mixed” in the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi. The response comes after the EC issued a notice demanding an explanation by 11 AM.
Accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal visited the EC office in New Delhi, reiterating that his statements were based on scientific findings of dangerously high ammonia levels in the water coming from Haryana.
Kejriwal’s Explanation To The EC
In his written reply, Kejriwal emphasized that:
• His remarks were made in the context of the rising ammonia levels, which peaked at 7 parts per million (ppm) in January, posing a severe health risk to Delhi residents.
• The Haryana government failed to take action despite repeated appeals, leading to worsening water contamination.
• He accused the BJP-led Haryana government of deliberately creating a water crisis in Delhi to tarnish AAP’s image ahead of elections.
• AAP had consistently raised concerns through press conferences and social media, including a statement by Delhi Minister Atishi on January 27.
Political Conspiracy Allegations
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP’s “political conspiracy” aimed to engineer a water crisis to influence the Delhi elections. “They forced half of Delhi to face a crisis by contaminating the water with poisonous ammonia,” he claimed.
He further argued that the EC, instead of addressing the core issue of pollution, was “shooting the messenger” by targeting AAP.
EC’s Demand For Proof
The Election Commission has issued two notices, demanding Kejriwal provide:
• The names of engineers and officials who detected the contamination.
• The exact locations and methods used to test the water quality.
Failing to provide this by Friday morning, the EC warned of further action against Kejriwal.
Kejriwal’s Response On The Water Crisis
The AAP leader claimed success in reducing the ammonia levels, stating, “From 7 ppm on January 26-27, it has now dropped to 2.1 ppm.” He also demanded a criminal investigation into Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, accusing him of intentionally aggravating the situation for political gain.
The EC’s decision on Kejriwal’s response is awaited as political tensions rise over the water contamination issue ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.