NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) has found AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s reply unsatisfactory regarding his allegations that the Haryana Government poisoned the Yamuna river. The poll body noted that Kejriwal failed to provide evidence and directed him to submit a fresh response by 11 am on Friday, warning of appropriate action if he fails to comply.
In response, Kejriwal accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar of favouring the BJP in a “desperate bid for a post-retirement job” and alleged that the EC was ignoring election malpractices. He also speculated that he might be arrested within two days.
The controversy erupted after Kejriwal claimed that the BJP-led Haryana Government was “releasing poison into the Yamuna” and accused it of an “attempted genocide” in Delhi. Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also met the EC, alleging “water terrorism” by Haryana.
In its letter to Kejriwal, the EC emphasised that his claims must have a factual basis and warned of legal consequences, including up to three years of imprisonment, for making “mischievous” statements that threaten public harmony.
Kejriwal cited a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) report stating that Yamuna water contained 7 ppm of ammonia 700 per cent above the permissible limit posing a public health risk. However, the EC rejected this justification, stating that he had failed to clarify the factual and legal basis of his allegation against the Haryana Government.
The poll panel noted that Kejriwal’s statement could incite disharmony and unrest. It has now asked him to provide a “specific and pointed reply” addressing key questions, including what ‘poison’ was used, who detected it, and how it was found, without conflating the issue with the broader problem of ammonia levels in the Yamuna.