The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, requesting him to substantiate his recent claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government has been “poisoning” the Yamuna River water supplied to Delhi. The ECI has set a deadline of 8 PM on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, for Kejriwal to provide evidence supporting his allegations.
In its letter, the ECI emphasized the gravity of Kejriwal’s statements, noting that such claims could incite enmity between regional groups and potentially lead to public unrest due to perceived or actual water shortages. The commission highlighted legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically Sections 196 (promoting enmity on grounds of place of birth, residence), 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), and 353 (public mischief), each carrying a maximum jail term of three years. Additionally, Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act was cited.
The notice follows complaints from both the BJP and Congress parties, which have accused Kejriwal of making baseless and inflammatory statements. A BJP delegation, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Bhupender Yadav, met with ECI officials, urging the commission to bar Kejriwal from campaigning in the upcoming Delhi elections over his remarks. They argued that his statements violated the model code of conduct and could lead to public panic.
In response to the ECI’s notice, Kejriwal has maintained his stance, asserting that he will not allow the people of Delhi to consume “poisonous water” and has accused the Haryana government of playing politics over the issue. He has also dismissed threats of legal action against him, stating that he is prepared to face any consequences.
The ECI has also sought a report from the Haryana government regarding the alleged high levels of ammonia in the Yamuna waters released to Delhi. The situation remains tense as the deadline approaches, with potential legal and political implications for Kejriwal and the AAP.
