Is Arvind Kejriwal Responsible for Delhi’s Water Crisis?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Delhi BJP protests highlight growing concerns about water supply.
- Accusations against Arvind Kejriwal show the political tensions in Delhi.
- Protesters demand accountability from the AAP government.
- The situation underscores the importance of water management in politics.
- Responses from AAP indicate a defensive stance regarding water supply issues.
New Delhi, May 6 (NationPress) - The Delhi BJP organized a protest on Tuesday outside the home of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, attributing blame to him for the ongoing conflict between the Punjab government and Haryana regarding water supply to both the state and the national capital.
Led by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, the protesters asserted that the national capital is on the brink of a water crisis due to reductions in water supply from the Bhakra Canal to neighboring states, a decision allegedly made by the Kejriwal-led Punjab government under Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Among the demonstrators were Delhi MPs, MLAs, and numerous municipal councillors who gathered outside Kejriwal's residence in Central Delhi.
Protesters occupied a bus queue shelter near his home and chanted slogans.
Notable attendees included MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogendra Chandolia, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Praveen Khandelwal, and Bansuri Swaraj; MLAs Ajay Mahawar, Jitendra Mahajan, Neeraj Basoya, Anil Sharma, Shikha Rai, Sanjay Goyal, Gajendra Daral, Rajkumar Bhatia, along with state BJP officials and party cell heads.
Wearing black armbands and carrying placards against the Punjab government, the protesters demanded that Kejriwal urge the Punjab government to reverse the water supply restrictions from the Bhakra Canal.
During the protest, Sachdeva stated that Kejriwal is obstructing Delhi’s 'just' share of water from Punjab and accused the AAP-led Punjab government of intending to leave Delhi without water during the peak summer months.
He claimed that Kejriwal and his party have not yet acknowledged their electoral defeat in Delhi and are retaliating against the citizens of Delhi.
Sachdeva further commented, “After the attack in Pahalgam, India halted water supplies to Pakistan, and similarly, Kejriwal, frustrated by his loss, is withholding water from the residents of Delhi.”
He insisted, “It is our collective duty to secure Delhi's rightful water supply. That is why we are here today, demanding accountability from Kejriwal for why he and his party are punishing innocent Delhi residents for their political failures.”
The verbal conflict regarding river water distribution intensified when Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma accused Kejriwal of retaliating against Delhi citizens for his party's electoral defeat by instructing Punjab to limit water supply to Haryana and Delhi.
This claim prompted a sharp rebuttal from AAP leader and former Delhi CM Atishi, who remarked, "Delhi receives water from the Yamuna and the Ganga, neither of which flows through Punjab. Thus, there is no basis for blaming Punjab for halting Delhi’s water supply."