New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday criticized former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the deteriorating condition of the Yamuna river and questioned his unwillingness to engage with women.

Her remarks followed an incident where she and a group of women from Purvanchal were detained by Delhi Police while attempting to present water from the Yamuna to Kejriwal.

In an interview with IANS, Maliwal stated that Kejriwal seemed “afraid of women,” highlighting, “Thousands of women from Purvanchal came to meet him at his residence, but he chose to stay inside. He should have confronted us, especially since we brought the polluted water from Yamuna. If he genuinely cared, he would have taken a dip in it or even consumed it. Instead, he had us detained by the police.”

She further condemned Kejriwal for ignoring the urgent concerns of the women, saying, “The women were pleading, asking when clean water would be available in their homes and when Chhath Puja could be celebrated at Yamuna Ghat. Kejriwal had no answers. If he continues to betray the women of Purvanchal, he will face Chhathi Maiya’s curse.”

Maliwal also criticized Kejriwal for his unfulfilled commitments regarding the cleaning of the Yamuna river, recalling his past promises.

“Kejriwal assured that he would be the first to take a dip in the Yamuna once it was clean. He even stated that if the river wasn’t cleaned by 2025, he wouldn’t seek votes. But now, his narrative has shifted. He claims that cleaning the Yamuna won’t secure votes. Yamuna is our mother, and Kejriwal must prioritize her needs over political gains. He needs to stop acting like a ‘liquor broker’ and start behaving like the son of Yamuna.”

As the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections approach, Maliwal urged Kejriwal to reform, cautioning that if he doesn’t, the public will ensure his downfall.

The election campaign concluded on February 3, with voting scheduled for February 5.