With the Haryana Assembly elections around the corner, a heated political battle has erupted between Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. The dispute centers around the quality of Yamuna water being supplied to Delhi, an issue that has intensified after former CM Arvind Kejriwal’s controversial claim about ‘poison’ in the river. The debate has now escalated into a public and political showdown, with both leaders taking to social media and on-ground visits to stake their claims.
A Challenge on Social Media Turns Into Political Drama
The controversy gained momentum when CM Atishi, in a post on social media platform X, directly challenged CM Saini. She invited him to visit Palla Ghat together to inspect the Yamuna’s water quality. In response, CM Saini took matters into his own hands—literally. He visited Palla village alone, rinsed his mouth with Yamuna’s water, and even took a sip to demonstrate that the water was not contaminated. A video of his act quickly went viral, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.
Replying to Atishi’s post, CM Saini fired back, stating, “AAP’s proxy CM Atishi Marlena, you are welcome to the Yamuna banks in Palla village. There is no poison in the water coming from Haryana, but there is definitely poison in your minds.” He further accused AAP leaders of constantly blaming Haryana for Delhi’s problems, be it water shortages, air pollution due to stubble burning, or governance failures.
Watch: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini Drinks Yamuna Water in Palla Village
As the video of CM Saini drinking Yamuna water made rounds on social media, his move was seen as a direct rebuttal to AAP’s claims. Meanwhile, Atishi continued to insist on an official examination of the river’s ammonia levels, stating, “Let’s go together with the media and measure the ammonia levels in the Yamuna. People deserve to know the truth. Haryana is sending toxic water to Delhi.”
Saini’s Strong Rebuttal: ‘How Can We Poison Our Own People?’
During his visit to Palla, CM Saini took the opportunity to address the larger issue at hand, making an emotional appeal. “We consider rivers to be our mothers, we worship them. Yet, some people claim that our rivers are being poisoned. These are individuals with a different mindset who neither understand nor respect our culture and traditions. They have even questioned the existence of Lord Ram. We see the entire world as one family—how can we ever think of poisoning our own people? Their accusations are nothing but narrow-minded politics.”
Kejriwal’s Allegations Ignite the Dispute
The debate over Yamuna’s water quality was triggered by former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who alleged that Haryana was supplying ‘poisoned water’ to Delhi. However, Kejriwal failed to provide any substantial evidence to back his claim. Following the backlash, AAP clarified that their reference to ‘poison’ was more about pollution and contamination rather than deliberate poisoning.
Election Commission Dragged Into the Dispute
The issue has taken a political turn, with both BJP and Congress seeking action against Arvind Kejriwal’s statement. While the BJP has requested the Election Commission to ban Kejriwal from campaigning, the Congress has demanded an official inquiry into both BJP’s and AAP’s roles in the controversy. With elections approaching, this dispute over water has become a key electoral talking point.
What’s Next?
With the political temperature rising, the Yamuna water controversy is unlikely to die down anytime soon. While the BJP is using the issue to corner AAP over its governance failures, AAP is leveraging the debate to push its narrative of Haryana’s alleged negligence. As both parties engage in a war of words, the real question remains—what steps will be taken to ensure clean and safe drinking water for the residents of Delhi?
Only time will tell whether this controversy leads to constructive solutions or remains yet another political slugfest in the run-up to the elections.
