New Delhi [India], January 29: Congress’ New Delhi candidate Sandeep Dikshit has strongly criticized AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his recent “poisoned water” comment, accusing him of making a baseless claim of “genocide” without any evidence. Dikshit called for immediate action from the Election Commission of India over the remark.
Dikshit, in a conversation with ANI, expressed his concerns after Kejriwal’s statements about the water in Delhi being poisoned. The Delhi Chief Minister had claimed that the engineers from the Delhi Jal Board had prevented the “poison” from mixing with the water. However, Dikshit pointed out that the CEO of the Jal Board had confirmed that no such incident had taken place, further emphasizing that Kejriwal was lying.
“I have written a letter to the Election Commission. Kejriwal has gravely accused another government of genocide without any proof. His statement is completely misleading, and the Election Commission should act on it immediately,” Dikshit said.
Dikshit also took the opportunity to criticize Kejriwal over the liquor policy scandal, alleging that the Delhi Chief Minister had committed massive corruption. He questioned why the central government had not taken any action, claiming that proper police investigations could lead to Kejriwal facing serious consequences. “If the police investigate him properly, Kejriwal might spend the next 15-20 years in Tihar Jail,” he said.
The Congress candidate also raised questions about Kejriwal’s role during the Delhi Riots, implying that he had been hiding when the violence broke out. He pointed to the liquor scam, which allegedly saw contractors from South India earning millions, and suggested the public should realize the level of corruption under Kejriwal’s rule.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Atishi, criticizing Kejriwal’s “poisoned water” remarks as “false, misleading, and factless.” Saxena advised Atishi to prioritize public welfare and peace over petty political interests. In his letter, the LG also condemned Kejriwal’s accusations, describing them as an attempt to provoke the public.
Kejriwal had previously accused the Haryana government of “poisoning” the Yamuna water, claiming that if it had mixed with Delhi’s drinking water, it could have caused mass deaths. He referred to this as potential “genocide.”
The Election Commission of India has now asked Kejriwal to provide evidence to support his allegations. The Commission has given Kejriwal until 8:00 PM on January 29 to submit his response, with the ECI stating it would take further action based on the facts presented.
As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, with voting scheduled for February 5 and results to be declared on February 8, the political climate continues to heat up. A total of 699 candidates are vying for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi.