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Last Updated:January 29, 2025, 19:16 IST

Nayab Singh Saini refuted Kejriwal’s allegations that the BJP-led Haryana government had poisoned the Yamuna, calling the statement an attempt to create fear for political gain

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took a sip of water from the Yamuna River in Delhi’s Palla Village. (Screengrab via X/@ANI)

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday took a sip of water from the Yamuna River in Delhi’s Palla Village, in response to claims made by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the contamination of the river.

Saini refuted Kejriwal’s allegations that the BJP-led Haryana government had poisoned the Yamuna, calling the statement an attempt to create fear for political gain.

A video showing the Haryana CM drinking water from the sacred river has been shared on social media, where he can be seen standing at the riverbank as he takes a sip.

Speaking after drinking the water, Saini said, “An unfortunate statement by Arvind Kejriwal was given to create fear in the minds of people for his political benefits. Today, I have come here to the banks of River Yamuna and took a sip of water from Yamuna. He said that the BJP Govt of Haryana has poisoned the Yamuna River.”

Saini also pointed out that water samples from the river had been tested by the water resource authority, and no traces of poison were found. He further accused Kejriwal of lying throughout his political career.

Saini also took to the social media platform X to share his thoughts after drinking the Yamuna water.

“Without any hesitation and without any hesitation, I drank the water of the holy Yamuna on the border of Haryana. Atishi ji did not come. She must be making up a new lie. Lies have no legs. That is why Aap-da’s lie is not working. The god-like people of Delhi have recognized these deceivers. The end of AAP’s era of deceit is certain on 5 February. The people of Delhi will punish Haryana’s ungrateful son Kejriwal because our brotherhood has been strong for centuries,” he wrote in his post.

This comes after Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, charged the Haryana government with contaminating the Yamuna with “poison,” a claim that drew heavy criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Haryana government responded by threatening to take legal action against Kejriwal, and the Delhi Jal Board also dismissed the claims, calling them “factually incorrect, misleading, and without any basis.”

The exchange has intensified a political war of words over the state of the Yamuna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in on the matter, slamming Kejriwal in a public meeting in Delhi’s Kartar Nagar ahead of the February 5 assembly elections.

Modi said, “Those who built ‘sheesh mahal’ and those who looted public money worth thousands of crores of rupees can never think of the welfare of the poor. That is why they are spreading lies in Delhi. These AAP-da people speak lies with such innocence that people get trapped.”

Kejriwal Accuses Saini Of Pretending To Drink Yamuna Water

Shortly after Saini drank the water, Kejriwal took to X and accused the Haryana CM of pretending to drink the water and then spitting it back into the river.

“Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini pretended to drink Yamuna water… and then spat the same water back into the Yamuna,” he wrote in his post.

The former Delhi CM reiterated his claim that the Yamuna water, contaminated with ammonia, could be harmful to Delhi residents.

“When I said that Yamuna water could be dangerous for the lives of Delhiites due to ammonia contamination, they threatened to file an FIR against me. They want to make the people of Delhi drink the same poisonous water which they themselves cannot drink. I will never let this happen,” he added.

ALSO READ: ‘I Drink Same Water… Can Haryana BJP Poison Me?’ PM Modi On AAP’s ‘Toxic Yamuna’ Charge