Arvind Kejriwal replies to EC, says ‘Yamuna poisoning’ remark made in public interest

NEW DELHI, Jan 29: Former Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday replied to the Election Commission of India’s notice over his claim that the Haryana government was “mixing poison” in Yamuna river, and said raw water received from the state recently has been “highly contaminated and extremely poisonous” for human health.
In his reply to the poll panel, the former Delhi chief minister also said he made the comments in the context of an “urgent public health crisis” over drinking water quality in the national capital.
In the 14-page reply to the ECI, Arvind said the “alleged statements” attributed to him were made as his public duty to highlight the “severe toxicity and contamination” of raw water received from the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Haryana.
Following a complaint filed by the BJP over the matter, the poll panel had issued the notice to Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, giving him time till Wednesday 8pm to furnish his reply.
Kejriwal also said the ammonia level in raw water received from Haryana was so “extreme” that water treatment plants in Delhi are unable to process it down to safe and permissible limits for human consumption.
He said that the raw water received from Haryana is highly contaminated and poisonous and the “contamination are so extreme that the Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Delhi are unable to process it to bring it within safe limits”.
“Such toxic water if is allowed to be consumed by human population the same would lead to grave health hazard and fatality,” the AAP chief said.
Arvind Kejriwal contended that his remarks can’t be termed as “inciting enmity between different groups or prejudicial to national integration”.
He further pointed out that his statements on Yamuna water was based on the letter issued by CEO of Delhi Jal Board on January 27.
“The letter itself admits that the levels of ammonia in the water coming to Delhi from Haryana has increased manifold, in as much as, it has reached to the level of 6.5-7 ppm,” Arvind Kejriwal said.
He further pointed out the portion of Delhi Jal Board CEO’s letter wherein it mentioned that the “ammonia increases in river Yamuna due to mixing of some untreated sewage or industrial waste at the upstream of Wazirabad Barrage”.
In his response to the Election Commission, Arvind Kejriwal pointed out the health risks due to excessive ammonia levels in drinking water.He contended that his remarks did not violate the Code of Conduct. “The statements made are fully protected under the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and expression,” Arvind Kejriwal told poll panel.
He added, “It is impermissible, both legally and constitutionally, to criminalise the act of highlighting governmental lapses in ensuring the availability of safe water for the residents of Delhi.”
Addressing an election rally on January 27, Arvind Kejriwal raised the issue of the poor quality of water that was being provided to Delhi by Haryana.
The remark drew a sharp reaction from BJP and Congress, who questioned the veracity of his claims. (Agencies)