BJP Demands Action Against Kejriwal Over “Poison in Yamuna” Claim

New Delhi, 29th January 2025: On Tuesday, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking action against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal had accused BJP leaders of “mixing poison” in the Yamuna river flowing from Haryana to Delhi, an assertion the BJP deems irresponsible.

The BJP leaders called for Kejriwal to be banned from campaigning in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, warning that his unchecked statements could incite “potential public unrest.” The delegation, which included Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Bhupendra Yadav, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, urged the ECI to order Kejriwal to publicly retract his claim and apologize for spreading fear among the public.

The BJP also requested that the ECI take legal action, including filing an FIR under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Disaster Management Act.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly criticized Kejriwal for his “irresponsible” remarks, labelling him a “self-proclaimed anarchist” who poses a threat to India’s political structure. Sitharaman stated that the AAP leader’s statement instilled fear in the people of Delhi.

“Today, a BJP delegation, including my senior Bhupender Yadav, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, and Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, went to the ECI to protest against the unfair, irresponsible, and code-of-conduct-violating statement made by former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. This statement is dangerous—not just for us, but for India’s federal structure. It’s easy for him to speak irresponsibly, but his words have caused panic among Delhi’s citizens,” Sitharaman remarked.

Earlier, Kejriwal had doubled down on his accusation, reiterating his claim about the alleged poison in the Yamuna. Despite threats of legal action from Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, he refused to retract his statement.