AAP challenges Delhi CM to drink Yamuna water, accuses BJP of misleading Purvanchalis
New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday escalated its attack on the BJP government over the Yamuna's pollution levels ahead of Chhath puja, with the party's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj challenging Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to drink water from the river to prove her claims that it had been cleaned.
There was no immediate response available from the Delhi government over the accusation.
Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said, "Yamuna Ji's water contains sewage, and this has been confirmed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) report under the BJP government. Millions of people from the Purvanchal community will be victims of the lies and deceit of BJP leaders and CM Rekha Gupta."
People from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand living in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) are referred to as Purvanchalis.
He alleged that the BJP government had obstructed AAP's plans to clean the Yamuna when it was in power, and accused the ruling party of "spreading a regime of lies" for political gains.
"Our government made a plan to clean Yamuna Ji, but the BJP's LG created all sorts of obstacles. If Rekha Gupta claims the river is clean, she should drink its water and show it," he said.
AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha, who was also present, alleged that the BJP was "playing with the lives of Purvanchalis" for political mileage.
"While in power, the BJP is playing with the lives of the Purvanchal community for political benefits. The BJP has always hated Purvanchalis and this time it is playing with their health," he said.
In a post on X, Bharadwaj cited a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) report dated October 23, claiming the Yamuna's water was "not even suitable for bathing" and contained "human waste in alarming quantity".
He further alleged that the Haryana government had diverted water from the Eastern Yamuna Canal for a week, which would worsen pollution levels after the diversion stopped.
Later in the day, several AAP leaders reached the chief minister's residence with bottles of Yamuna water, reiterating their challenge for Gupta to drink it.
"CM Madam, drink the so-called clean water of Yamuna," the party said in a post on X.
The war of words comes as Chhath puja, a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, begins on Friday. The BJP, which returned to power in Delhi earlier this year after 26 years, has made rejuvenating the Yamuna one of its key promises.
The political temperature in the capital has been rising ahead of the festival, with both parties accusing each other of misleading people over the river's condition and preparations for Chhath celebrations.
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Gill leads Gujarat Titans to 5-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders
Ahmedabad (PTI): Shubman Gill led from the front with a classy 86 as Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in an Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
Earlier, KKR all-rounder Cameron Green produced a fighting 79 off 55 balls to lift his side to 180 all out. In reply, Gill anchored the chase with a composed 86 off 50 deliveries as GT crossed the line in 19.4 overs.
The win marked GT's third successive victory after opening with two losses, while KKR's search for their first win of the season continues.
Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 180 all out in 20 overs (Cameron Green 79; Kagiso Rabada 3/29, Mohammed Siraj 2/23).
Gujarat Titans: 181 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Shubman Gill 86; Varun Chakravarthy 2/34).
