Amid the ongoing row over Yamuna water which, according to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been allegedly 'poisoned' by Haryana's BJP-led government, CM Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday was seen taking a sip of Yamuna water.
Moreover, in fresh legal trouble, a Haryana court has issued a summons to Kejriwal over his claim that the state government was "poisoning" the Yamuna to disrupt Delhi's water supply. According to PTI, the court has directed Kejriwal to appear before it on February 17. If he fails to do so, action will be taken against him as per the rule of law, the notice issued to Kejriwal said.
This came after the Haryana government decided to file a defamation case against Kejriwal over his remarks alleging the BJP government in Haryana has "poisoned" the Yamuna water, state minister Vipul Goyal said on Wednesday. The development came right ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections which is scheduled to take place on February 5.
"Kejriwal has spread panic among the people of Haryana and Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal has given an irresponsible statement...There is no truth in these allegations. The Haryana government will not spare him," Mr Goyal said.
Citing officials, NDTV reported that the state government has already sent the complaint, and a case will be filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court (CJM)court in Sonipat under sections of Disaster Management.
What did Kejriwal say?
The BJP-run government of Haryana decided to take the drastic step as the AAP chief on Monday, in an explosive claim, said that the BJP government in Haryana mixes "poison" in the Yamuna water it supplies to Delhi.
Kejriwal's remark came in connection to the high levels of ammonia detected in the Yamuna water which reportedly was over 700 times the permissible limit.
"The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh... but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here...it is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board engineers that this water was stopped," Mr Kejriwal had said.
After Kejriwal, several other AAP leaders including Chief Minister Atishi spoke on the same line. They slammed the BJP for "water terrorism". The chief minister also wrote to the Election Commission and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena demanding suitable action by the poll body against BJP.
BJP holds protests in Haryana, CM Saini seeks apology
In reaction to Kejriwal's controversial remark, Haryana BJP on Tuesday held protests in the state at several places including Karnal, Sonipat, Panchkula. During the agitation, BJP workers burnt Kejriwal's effigy.
On Monday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had rubbished AAP's charges. Saini had also hit out at former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, saying it has become his habit to level baseless allegations and blame others.
Kejriwal should immediately apologise to the people of Haryana and Delhi, "otherwise we will file a defamation suit against him", Saini had said.
EC seeks evidence
Responding to CM Atishi's letter, the Election Commission of India (ECI) asked Kejriwal to produce evidence of his claims by 8 PM today. According to the Election Commission, Kejriwal's claims are a "serious allegation" and could create between states.
"The electors tend to believe whatever is being said in public by their leaders and in that sense, the statement, if not true, affect the campaign discourse. If true, this also has serious ramifications of creating enmity between regional groups, residents of neighbouring states, threat of law-and-order situation due to actual or perceived shortage of non-availability of water," the Commission said.
