New Delhi: Before the festival of Chhath, the politics of Delhi has once again heated up regarding the water of Yamuna. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are at loggerheads over the cleanliness and pollution of Yamuna in the capital. Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has given an open challenge to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta that if the Yamuna water is really clean then she should show it by drinking it.
Saurabh Bhardwaj said that he himself has brought Yamuna water from near Wazirabad and the dirt settled at the bottom and the sewage of Najafgarh drain are clearly visible in it. They claim that this water is not only fit for drinking but also for bathing. He warned that if people add infusion to this water during Chhath Puja or drink it by mistake, their health can become so bad that it can be life-threatening.
AAP’s Delhi chief Saurabh Bhardwaj said in the press conference, “We will take this water to CM Rekha Gupta and see if she can drink it. If not, then stop lying to the people.” He said that the two-day old report of the Delhi Pollution Control Board (which is under the BJP government) clearly states that the water of Yamuna is extremely polluted. This report is from BJP’s own government institution, but still the public is being misled.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Burari Sanjeev Jha alleged that BJP is playing with the sentiments of Purvanchal society. He said that during Chhath Puja, Purvanchali families whose faith is linked to Yamuna are being put at risk by telling lies. Jha said, “BJP has always hated Purvanchalis and now it is playing with their health.”
Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the Aam Aadmi Party government had made a concrete plan for cleaning the Yamuna, but the BJP Lieutenant Governor created obstacles at every step. He alleged that BJP has created a “lie system” which is doing politics on the basis of fake claims and propaganda. Bhardwaj said, “If Rekha Gupta cannot drink this water of Yamuna, then please stop misleading the public.”