Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal launched a fierce attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Thursday, accusing the Election Commission of engaging in political manoeuvring after rejecting his claims about deliberate poisoning of the Yamuna River.
At a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that the poll body’s notice to him was politically motivated. He accused Kumar of eyeing a job post-retirement.
“I want to say ECI, with respect, they can’t see money being distributed openly in Delhi. They cannot see blankets being distributed in the city... ECI is doing politics because Rajiv Kumar wants a job post-retirement. I want to say to Rajiv Kumar that history will not forgive you. Rajiv Kumar has made a mess of the poll body,” Kejriwal said.
Taking a further swipe at Kumar, Kejriwal remarked that if the CEC wished to engage in politics, he should contest the Delhi polls from a constituency.
The AAP leader reiterated his stance on the pollution of the Yamuna, stating that high-ammonia water, if sent to treatment plants, would mix with chlorine and become 'deadly.'
“When we raised the 7 ppm found in the Yamuna water, the ammonia level dropped to 3. That means they were doing this. Till the time I am alive, I will not let people drink poisonous water. We will not let poisonous water enter Delhi. I am standing with the people of Delhi,” Kejriwal asserted.
CEC Rajiv Kumar had earlier responded to queries regarding his post-retirement plans, stating that he was passionate about education and would dedicate his time to charity after a retreat to the Himalayas for peace and solitude.
The Election Commission earlier responded sharply to Kejriwal’s remarks, asking him not to conflate issues of increased ammonia in the Yamuna with his serious allegations of mass poisoning and equating it to an act of war between nations.
Granting him a final opportunity to substantiate his claims, the Commission instructed Kejriwal to provide factual evidence, including the type, quantity, and nature of the alleged poison and the methodology used by Delhi Jal Board engineers to detect it.
He was asked to respond by 11 am on Friday, failing which appropriate action would be taken.
The poll body emphasised that ensuring clean water was a governance issue for all concerned governments and highlighted existing legal directives from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.
The Delhi Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled for 5 February, with the results to be declared on 8 February.
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