New Delhi: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar of indulging in politics and undermining the credibility of the Election Commission (EC). This came after Kejriwal received a notice from the EC over his controversial statement that the Haryana government was “mixing poison” in the Yamuna River.
At a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that Kumar had severely damaged the reputation of the EC and was now seeking a post-retirement position. He also criticized BJP and Congress leaders for endangering the health of Delhi’s residents. Kejriwal challenged these leaders to drink water contaminated with ammonia, claiming it posed a significant health risk.
In response to the notice, Kejriwal revealed that AAP MP Sanjay Singh would present a bottle of the suspected toxic water to key figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, Haryana CM Nayab Saini, and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi. “If they believe the water is not harmful, I dare them to drink it,” Kejriwal stated.
The controversy followed the Election Commission’s dissatisfaction with Kejriwal’s earlier reply, urging him to provide further clarification on the matter by 11 am on January 31. The EC warned that failure to respond appropriately could lead to further actions.
Kejriwal, visibly upset, continued his tirade, saying, “No one has harmed the Election Commission like Rajiv Kumar. If he wants, he can contest elections in any of Delhi’s constituencies.” He vowed to protect Delhi’s residents from drinking contaminated water, adding that he would not be intimidated by any possible arrests.
Referring to Haryana’s CM, Kejriwal remarked that while Saini had promised to drink water from Palla, he backed out and even discarded it after tasting a sip, making the entire incident a “dramatic failure.”
In his earlier reply to the EC, Kejriwal had stated that the water being supplied to Delhi from Haryana was dangerously contaminated and posed a grave risk to public health. The EC’s response, issued on Thursday, indicated that Kejriwal’s explanation was inadequate and lacked clarity on the main issue.
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