Shruti Suman
New Delhi: On Saturday, BJP leaders and supporters staged a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, addressing the severe water shortage in the city. Led by BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri, the demonstration took place at the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) filling station in Okhla.
To control the crowd, Delhi Police deployed water cannons on the protesters.
Bidhuri took aim at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, remarking, “Claiming to be a ‘common man’ and wearing long-sleeve shirts doesn’t make you one. You have toyed with the emotions of Delhi’s residents.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Water Minister Atishi, who is on an indefinite hunger strike to highlight the water crisis, accused the BJP-led Haryana government of withholding water meant for Delhi. “Yesterday, 110 million gallons per day less water was supplied than our allocated share, leaving over 2.8 million citizens without adequate water,” she stated.
Atishi pledged to continue the ‘Water Satyagraha’ until Haryana restores Delhi’s full water quota. She elaborated that National Capital typically receives 1,005 MGD of water from neighboring states, with Haryana contributing 613 MGD. However, in recent weeks, Haryana has reduced its contribution to 513 MGD, impacting more than 2.8 million people.
Recently, Atishi accused Haryana of obstructing Delhi’s rightful share of water to the Yamuna River, despite offers from states like Himachal Pradesh to release additional water to ease the crisis.
