Yamuna Politics: BJP Targets Arvind Kejriwal over 'River Clean-Up By 2025' Promise

The BJP has slammed the AAP government in Delhi for failing to clean the river despite making promises, blaming its "toxic politics" for the pollution crisis.

A man bathes an infant in the Yamuna in Kalindi Kunj on Saturday as toxic foam floats on the surface of the polluted river in Delhi.

Source : PTI

The air pollution in Delhi has reached alarming levels, causing residents to experience breathing difficulty. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has surged past 400, and toxic foam is visible on the Yamuna. The BJP has now targeted former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the thick layer of toxic foam on the Yamuna and his "promise to clean up the river by 2025".

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had failed to keep its promise of cleaning up the Yamuna. Poonawalla said, "The water in the Yamuna River has become poisonous. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had promised to clean the Yamuna by 2025. But when people celebrate Chhath Puja in the river this year, imagine the diseases they might suffer from."

#WATCH | Delhi: BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "The water of Yamuna river has become poisonous. Arvind Kejriwal had said that he would clean the Yamuna River by 2025. When people celebrate the Chhath Puja festival in the Yamuna river, can you imagine the… pic.twitter.com/XNzIGKHer9

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024

He added, "The Delhi government, led by AAP, spent all the funds meant for cleaning the Yamuna on advertisements. Now, they are blaming the pollution on the people of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The truth is that AAP's toxic politics is the reason behind the toxic air and water in Delhi and the Yamuna."

Poonawalla described the condition of the river, saying, "This is not Yamuna water anymore, but poisonous white foam. Arvind Kejriwal had promised that by 2025 the river would be completely clean. He had also made a similar promise for 2020."

He said, "Just before Chhath Puja, the Yamuna is in this condition. Think about it — when women from across the country and Delhi come here for the puja, what illnesses will they contract due to the polluted water? The river is in this state because the AAP government spent Rs 7,000 crores on advertisements. The stretch of the Yamuna from Wazirabad to Okhla contributes to 80% of the pollution. Now, they are again blaming Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for this."

Poonawalla raised concerns about the deteriorating situation, saying, "The Yamuna is in a critical condition, and Delhi has turned into a gas chamber. People need to wear masks just to step outside. The main reason behind this toxic air and water is toxic politics. The Delhi government has done nothing to curb the pollution."

He questioned, "Will the Aam Aadmi Party continue blaming others? What happened to the promises about stubble burning and smog towers? No one will answer that. Arvind Kejriwal, along with CM Atishi and other leaders, should come here and tell us whether the water in the Yamuna is fit for a holy dip or not."

Poonawalla challenged Kejriwal, saying: "If the Yamuna water is not fit for a dip, Kejriwal should not contest the upcoming elections as he had promised not to run if the river wasn’t cleaned by 2025."