BJP, AAP Lock Horns As Delhi Continues To Grapple With Crippling Floods, Severe Waterlogging

While Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj put the blame for the unprecedented situation on BJP-led Centre and Haryana, the saffron party claimed “inaction” of AAP was responsible for the floods.

Rescue team evacuates a woman from a flood-affected area, in Noida. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a war of words with both sides pointing fingers at each other as Delhi continued to grapple with crippling waterlogging and floods on Saturday.

While Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj put the blame for the unprecedented situation on BJP-led Centre and Haryana, who he alleged were wilfully releasing the water towards the national capital, the saffron party claimed “inaction” and “corruption” of AAP was responsible for the floods and demanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s apology for “failing” to handle the situation.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia and party leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said that the Delhi flood was caused by lack of desilting of Yamuna in the last eight years of the Kejriwal government.

"The AAP and Kejriwal are big on making excuses, corruption and inaction. Just like they blamed the Centre and other states during the COVID-19 pandemic and for pollution, they were now accusing Haryana for flood in Delhi," PTI quoted Bhatia as saying.

दिल्ली बाढ़ की चपेट में आ चुकी है और यहां के नागरिकों को असुविधा हो रही है, जगह-जगह पानी जमा हुआ है। ऐसी स्थिति में केंद्र सरकार, भारतीय सेना, LG साहब का कार्यालय और NDRF की टीमें दिन-रात एक कर जनता की सेवा में लगी हैं तो दूसरी ओर अरविंद केजरीवाल की सरकार और उनके मंत्री हैं, जो… pic.twitter.com/7HZFxMeDFT

— BJP (@BJP4India) July 15, 2023

He further said that while the Centre, army, NDRF, Delhi LG and other agencies were trying their best to provide relief to the flood-hit people, CM Kejriwal and AAP leaders were busy playing the blame-game and citing “conspiracy” by the BJP as the reason behind the situation.

"In 2013 and 2019, 8 lakh cusecs water was released from Hathinikund barrage into the Yamuna. This year, only 3.5 lakh cusecs discharge caused flooding in Delhi. This because Kejriwal's priority is not work but to make excuses," he added.

Meanwhile, Verma claimed that the Delhi government and AAP leaders were indulging in politics and blaming the Centre and Haryana for their “failures”.

"They do not answer why Yamuna desilting was not done last year. Delhi faced floods after 45 years because the Kejriwal government did nothing to assess the situation and make necessary preparations. When the chief minister should have been busy with preparations for the monsoon, Kejriwal was meeting opposition leaders across the country to defeat Narendra Modi", PTI quoted Verma as saying.

I challenge Kejriwal to give a record to the people of Delhi about the number of times he has held Press Conferences on Delhi Floods, Rains, Yamuna River or any associated situation.

The answer to this question of mine is ZERO!

- Shri @p_sahibsingh

Watch full video:… pic.twitter.com/JKnhZt85jI

— BJP (@BJP4India) July 15, 2023

“The government has been unable to control the flood situation, for which the chief minister should apologise to the people of Delhi,” he added.

Their remarks come after AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged “conspiracy” of BJP-led Centre and Haryana government was responsible for the flood situation in Delhi.

10—11—12—13—14—15
6 दिन, बारिश नहीं हुई
तो दिल्ली में बाढ़ क्यों आ रही है?

BJP शासित केंद्र सरकार और Haryana सरकार पूरी कोशिश कर रहे हैं कि दिल्ली में बाढ़ की स्थिति रहे

1978 की बाढ़ से भी 1m ज्यादा स्तर है
कारण—Haryana का हथिनी कुंड से सारा पानी दिल्ली की तरफ़

—@Saurabh_MLAgk pic.twitter.com/NSTWwoABD9

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 15, 2023

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said, “The water from Hathnikund Barrage is released from three canals -- Western Canal, Eastern Canal and Yamuna. As part of a conspiracy, between July 9 and 13, water was released from Yamuna canal only towards Delhi. There was no water released through the Western and Eastern Canal.”