Delhi BJP, Haryana CM target AAP over brewing ‘water crisis’

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government of trying to sow divisions among people of neighbouring States and creating an “artificial” water crisis in Delhi.

Speaking at his official residence, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini targeted Mr. Mann. “It is wrong for a person holding a constitutional position to make controversial comments about not sharing the water. While he should be working for the welfare of the people of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann is instead making such remarks to boost his political career,” he said.

In Delhi, State BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and a delegation of the party’s MPs from the national capital met Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum regarding the water crisis “being imposed on the people of Delhi” by the Punjab government.

“There is no shortage of water in the Bhakra canal; yet, for politically motivated reasons, the AAP government in Punjab has announced a major reduction in water supply from the canal,” the memorandum stated.

The Delhi BJP also staged a protest outside the residence occupied by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister.

Atishi’s retort

Giving figures, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said, “The BBMB supplies Haryana and through it, Delhi. Delhi normally receives 980 cusecs of water per day via Haryana, but that supply has steadily dropped over the last five days.” He said the national capital was short of 463 cusecs of water in five days.

Responding to him, Delhi’s Leader of Opposition Atishi said, “Delhi receives its water from the Yamuna and Ganga rivers, not Punjab. The shortage, despite full supply through the Munak and Upper Ganga canals, is due to the BJP’s mismanagement.”