Today, On 29th January, The Haryana government announced plans to file a case against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his statement alleging “poisoning of the Yamuna River.” State Minister Vipul Goyal confirmed the decision on Wednesday, calling the remarks misleading. The government argues that such claims create unnecessary panic and misrepresent the state’s efforts in river management. Legal proceedings are expected to begin soon.
The Haryana government announced on Wednesday that it “will file a case against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding his allegations of Yamuna poisoning,” as stated by state minister Vipul Goyal.
Goyal said,
“Kejriwal has incited panic among the residents of Haryana and Delhi. His statement is irresponsible… The Haryana government will take action against him. There is no truth to these claims,”
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On Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal made a serious accusation, alleging that the BJP government in Haryana adds “poison” to the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi.
This was in reference to ammonia levels reported to be over 700 times the permissible limit, attributed to untreated industrial waste and pollution, according to AAP.
Arvind Kejriwal stated,
“The residents of Delhi receive their drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, but the Haryana government has allegedly mixed poison in the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi… It is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board engineers that this contaminated water was stopped,”
Following these remarks, other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi, confirmed the claims, accusing the BJP of “water terrorism.” Atishi wrote to the Election Commission and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, demanding action against the BJP.
On Wednesday, Haryana state minister Vipul Goyal announced that the government would file a case against Kejriwal for his allegations regarding the “poisoning” of the Yamuna.
In response to Kejriwal’s allegations, the Election Commission requested that he provide evidence by 8 PM that day, labeling the claims as “serious” and potentially divisive between states.
The Commission noted,
“Electors tend to believe whatever is said in public by their leaders, and if the statement is false, it could affect the campaign discourse. If true, it could create enmity between regional groups and pose a threat to law and order due to perceived water shortages,”
The Delhi Jal Board, which Kejriwal claimed had prevented the “poisonous” water from entering the capital, rejected his assertions.
CEO of the Delhi Jal Board, in a letter to the Chief Secretary, Shilpa Shinde said,
“These statements are factually incorrect, baseless, and misleading,”
She urged the Chief Secretary to inform the Delhi Lieutenant Governor about the situation, emphasizing that such false claims could incite fear among residents and negatively impact relations with Haryana.
The letter concluded,
“Given that this matter is likely to affect inter-state relations, these facts may need to be brought to the Lieutenant Governor’s attention,”
In January 2025, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Haryana government of deliberately poisoning the Yamuna River’s water supplied to Delhi. He claimed that this could have caused a “genocide” if Delhi Jal Board engineers had not intervened.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed in on the “Yamuna water war” on Wednesday, criticizing Arvind Kejriwal’s “disgusting” allegations.
PM Modi stated,
“They campaigned on the issue of the Yamuna… yet now they are acting shamelessly. They want Delhi to beg for water. The AAP has committed sins for political gain. History will never forgive them… nor will Delhi. Can the Haryana government of the BJP poison the water that the Prime Minister drinks?”
Suggesting that AAP’s fear of losing in the upcoming assembly elections had driven them to madness. He emphasized that “Haryana would never forget the insinuations,”
The Prime Minister added,
“Don’t people from Haryana live in Delhi? Can Haryana then poison Delhi’s water? Even I drink this water,”
Other BJP leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, also criticized Kejriwal following these remarks.
The Yamuna River, one of India’s most sacred and vital waterways, is severely poisoned by industrial waste, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff. Factories release toxic chemicals, while urban areas dump massive amounts of sewage, making the river unfit for human use. High phosphate levels cause toxic foam, endangering aquatic life and public health.
Despite government initiatives like sewage treatment plants and cleaning drives, pollution remains a critical issue. The National Green Tribunal issued strict guidelines, but enforcement is weak. Urgent action, including stricter regulations, waste management, and public awareness, is needed to restore the Yamuna’s ecological balance.