Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Atishi, raising strong objections to Arvind Kejriwal's allegations of "poisoning the Yamuna water" and "attempting genocide." The LG termed the accusations as "misleading" and warned that such statements could instigate unrest and pose a threat to national security.
The controversy arose after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP-led Haryana government of "intentionally" releasing industrial waste into the Yamuna River. Kejriwal went a step further, alleging that the BJP was "trying to kill people by mixing poison" into the water, sparking a political war of words.
In response, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini dismissed the claims, accusing AAP of making baseless allegations. "It's their old habit to blame others and then run away. The people of Delhi will give them an answer in the upcoming Assembly polls," he said. Saini also challenged the AAP government to verify the water quality at Sonipat, where the Yamuna enters Delhi.
The BJP has threatened legal action against Kejriwal for his remarks, calling them "irresponsible" and "divisive." Meanwhile, LG Saxena emphasized that public statements by political leaders should be factual and avoid creating unnecessary panic.
As the war of words continues, the issue has escalated tensions between the AAP-led Delhi government and the BJP-led Haryana administration, with both sides trading blame over pollution in the Yamuna River. The matter comes amid heightened political activity in the run-up to the February 5 Assembly elections.