CEC doing politics, destroyed credibility of EC: Kejriwal on row over Yamuna 'poisoning' claim

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar of engaging in politics by issuing him a notice over his claim that the Haryana government was "mixing poison" in the Yamuna.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that Kumar had "destroyed" the credibility of the Election Commission (EC) and was seeking a post-retirement position.

"No one has damaged the Election Commission the way Rajiv Kumar has done. If he wants, he can contest elections from any of the Delhi Assembly seats," the former chief minister said at the press conference.

"I will not let the people of Delhi drink poisonous water till I am alive. I know they will arrest me in two days but I am not afraid," he said without naming anyone.

Kejriwal's remarks came shortly after the EC expressed dissatisfaction with his response to its notice, and gave him another opportunity to clarify his accusations against the Haryana government.

Targeting the CEC, the AAP supremo said, "If you want to do politics, contest elections. He is eyeing a post-retirement job. No one has damaged the Election Commission as much as Rajiv Kumar has.

"I will not let the people of Delhi drink poisonous water as long as I am alive. I know they will arrest me in two days, but I am not afraid," he added.

Taking a potshot at his political rivals, Kejriwal alleged the Congress and BJP have teamed up and were putting the health of Delhi's people in jeopardy.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, in a post on X, said, "The Yamuna water which had touched 7 ppm ammonia, which is poisonous for the human body, was being sent by the BJP government of Haryana to the people of Delhi."

"If the AAP raises its voice, you will file a case against it. I am willing to go to jail for the safety of the people of Delhi but will not compromise with the lives of the people."

"The BJP and Congress leaders, who are creating drama about becoming the leaders of the people of Delhi should try drinking this poisonous water mixed with 7 PPM ammonia. We are sending bottles to your homes. Orink this water in front of the entire media; otherwise, apologise," Sisodia added.

Kejriwal responded to the EC's notice on Wednesday, stating that raw water received from Haryana in recent days had been "highly contaminated and extremely poisonous" to human health. He warned that allowing such "toxic water" to be consumed would pose a severe health hazard and could lead to fatalities.

In its letter on Thursday, the EC said Kejriwal's reply was "entirely silent" on the core issue and demanded further clarification by 11 am on January 31, warning of appropriate action if he failed to comply.

Targeting Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, Kejriwal said the CM "was trapped in his own drama" and claimed that Saini could not have even a sip of the water during his visit to Palla. "Yet, he wants the people of Delhi to consume this poisonous water," he added.

"For the past several days, water with extremely dangerous ammonia levels has been flowing into the Yamuna from Haryana. When CM Atishi called her Haryana counterpart, urging him to stop sending this toxic water, he did nothing," Kejriwal alleged.

The AAP chief further challenged BJP leaders and Congress' Rahul Gandhi to drink Yamuna water containing 7 ppm ammonia, which he said had been bottled.

"Our MP Sanjay Singh, along with other AAP leaders, will go to BJP headquarters with these water bottles. If Amit Shah, Nayab Saini, Virendra Sachdeva, and Rahul Gandhi —who have conspired to make Delhi's people drink poisonous water — can drink it, we will accept our mistake," he said.

The controversy erupted earlier this week when Kejriwal accused the BJP-led Haryana government of "mixing poison" in the Yamuna, likening it to an "act of war between nations." The BJP hit back, calling his statement "dangerous and irresponsible."

The war of words has intensified just days before the crucial Delhi Assembly elections on February 5, with results set to be declared on February 8.

AAP, which has ruled Delhi for the past decade, faces a fierce contest with the BJP, which is striving to return to power in the national capital after 25 years.