EC says Arvind Kejriwal did not give proof for ‘Haryana government poisoning Yamuna water’ claim

The Election Commission said on Thursday that Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal did not give proof for his allegation that the Haryana government was poisoning water from the Yamuna river being supplied to Delhi.

The poll panel said that on a preliminary assessment, Kejriwal’s allegation amounted to promoting disharmony and enmity between groups “even by the most sober interpretation”. It gave him another opportunity to give a “specific and pointed reply” in support of his claims by 11 am on Friday.

The Election Commission had first written to Kejriwal seeking evidence for the claim on Tuesday, in response to a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in Haryana. In response, the Aam Aadmi Party convenor maintained on Wednesday that he did not break any laws, and that his statement was aimed at expressing concern about toxic raw water being supplied to Delhi.

“The verifiable fact remains that Delhi, as a lower riparian state, depends on raw water supplies from Haryana, an upper riparian state, for potable water,” Kejriwal said in a letter to the Election Commission. “The alleged statements were made in furtherance of an imperative public duty to highlight the severe toxicity and raw water received from Haryana, which presents and imminent and direct…

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