The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made the issue of Yamuna river pollution a central point in their Delhi Assembly election campaign, launching a fresh attack on former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. On Saturday, BJP’s New Delhi constituency candidate, Parvesh Verma, took a boat ride on the Yamuna River, holding a life-size cut-out of Kejriwal. The cut-out showed Kejriwal with his ear covered in shame, with the slogan: “Main fail ho gaya, mujhe vote mat dena, 2025 tak main Yamuna saaf nai kar paya” (I am a failure, Don’t vote for me as I failed to clean Yamuna river by 2025).
#WATCH | BJP candidate from the New Delhi assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma reaches Yamuna Ghat; takes a jibe at AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal over the issue of cleaning Yamuna River. pic.twitter.com/uAVHPwOpDx
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2025
Verma’s Public Stunt Highlights BJP’s Criticism
Verma submerged the cut-out in the Ganga River multiple times, further emphasizing the BJP’s criticism of the AAP-led government’s failure to clean the Yamuna. He stated, “We can clean all the water of Yamuna Maaiya. Cleaning it is not rocket science. All the silt should be removed by machines, sewerage treatment plants should be built, and water treatment plants should be built. Just like our Prime Minister Modi Ji built the Sabarmati Riverfront, the Yamuna Riverfront can be built in the same way. 11 years is a very long time.”
Yamuna Pollution Becomes a Key Election Issue
Pollution in the Yamuna River has dominated the political discussions in Delhi, as it has been heavily polluted for years. The ruling AAP had promised to clean the river by 2025, but the lack of progress has given the opposition ample ammunition. Voters in Delhi are frustrated, with growing concerns about the health risks posed by the polluted waters.
Political Leaders Exchange Barbs Over the Issue
The controversy intensified as political leaders clashed over the issue. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav came to Kejriwal’s defense, questioning whether Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath would dare drink water from the Yamuna in Mathura. He mocked Adityanath’s criticism of Kejriwal on the pollution issue.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate Alka Lamba, running from Kalkaji, accused both the BJP and Congress of reducing the Yamuna problem to a political issue. She emphasized that Congress, if given the opportunity, would focus on cleaning the river without resorting to blame games, as she claimed Kejriwal had done with Purvanchal.
Delhi Assembly Elections 2025
The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with the vote counting set for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are vying for the 70 seats in the national capital.
