Delhi Water Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi continued her indefinite hunger strike for a second day, alleging Haryana of reducing its daily water supply to Delhi. Hitting out at the Delhi government, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena criticised the APP leaders saying that they engage in the same blame game every year.
The AAP claims that Haryana is supplying 100 million gallons per day (MGD) less water than required, impacting the lives of 28 lakh people in Delhi, and worsening the water shortage crisis.
The issue of water shortage arose with the high temperatures and heat waves in the national capital, Saxena highlighted
"Heart-rending scenes of people running after tankers and incidents of water shortage are not new in Delhi. This has been happening year after year and every year, the same blame-game story is repeated by the Government on social media and in press conferences," Saxena said, ANI reported.
VK Saxena also expressed his displeasure with the Delhi government's approach to governance and service provision. "The AAP Government will do well to go to the drawing board and revisit its model of governance rather than abusing, accusing, and scooting through social media and press conferences."
"The absence of seriousness in governance is disturbing. As the Constitutional Head of Delhi, I feel anguished at the approach of the AAP government, on almost every subject concerning governance and delivery of services to the people of Delhi," Delhi LG also said, as reported by ANI.
'I Was Left With No Choice But To Sit On A Fast:' Atishi
Meanwhile, Atishi, on her hunger strike, stated that she gave her all options before resorting to fasting when the Haryana government refused to supply the necessary water.
"This is the second day of my fast. There is a crisis of water in Delhi. Delhi receives water from its neighbouring states. Delhi receives a total of 1005 MGD of water that is supplied to the houses in Delhi. Out of this, 613 MGD of water comes from Haryana but for the past several weeks, it has been releasing only 513 MGD. Due to this, more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not receiving water. I tried everything but when the Haryana government didn't agree to supply water, I was left with no choice but to sit on a fast," Atishi said in a video released on her social media handle X.
The AAP leader, who is also the Delhi government's Water Minister, started her strike on Friday in Bhogal, which is close to Jangpura. Other party leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also accompanied her on the strike.
Meanwhile, AAP has written a letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena concerning the water shortage in the national capital. A delegation of AAP MPs, MLAs, and leaders will meet the Lieutenant Governor at 11 am tomorrow to discuss the issue.