NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks that BJP-ruled “Haryana was releasing poison into Yamuna waters” and “there was an attempt of genocide in the capital” today triggered a massive political slugfest with the BJP seeking his arrest and even the Congress advocating criminal action against him should he fail to prove the serious allegations.
After a long day of AAP and BJP leaders attacking one another and later petitioning the Election Commission separately on the issue, the poll panel asked Kejriwal to substantiate his claims by Wednesday.
Today, a high-level BJP delegation consisting of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav met the Chief Election Commissioner and sought action against Kejriwal for his “grave and unsubstantiated allegations”.
Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also met the CEC alleging a deliberate act of water terrorism by Haryana.
Following the meetings, the EC, in a letter to Kejriwal, said there must be a factual foundation to his allegations. In a letter to Kejriwal, the poll panel flagged legal provisions that could invite up to three-year imprisonment for “mischievous” statements against national integration and public harmony.
“You are called upon to furnish your response, especially on the factual and legal matrix with evidentiary support thereof by 8 pm on January 29,” the letter to Kejriwal stated.
The EC also said that it had perused the report of Delhi Jal Board (on which AAP leaders were basing their poison in Yamuna claim), which did not mention any poisoning in Yamuna.
“The commission is also in receipt of a joint letter from Chief Ministers of Delhi and Punjab alleging deliberate act of water terrorism by a sudden rise in ammonia levels in the water being released into Yamuna by Haryana. Another letter was received from Delhi CM explaining the incapability of Delhi water treatment plants to treat water with high levels of ammonia, leading to water shortage as well as public health crisis,” the EC said.
The BJP, led by Home Minister Amit Shah, accused Kejriwal of playing dirty politics on Yamuna waters. All BJP MPs from Haryana jointly demanded Kejriwal’s arrest over his remarks.
Earlier, Sitharaman, Haryana CM Saini and Yadav who met the EC demanded that Kejriwal should retract his remarks and apologise to the people for creating panic.
They also urged the EC to bar him from campaigning.