BJP leader dips Arvind Kejriwal’s poster in Yamuna, targets unfulfilled cleaning promise: "Main fail ho gaya"

As the Delhi Assembly elections draw near, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has escalated its criticism of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the unfulfilled promise to clean the Yamuna river by 2025. On Saturday, Parvesh Verma, BJP’s candidate for the New Delhi constituency, staged a symbolic protest by taking a boat ride on the Yamuna river while carrying a life-size cutout of Kejriwal. The cutout featured Kejriwal holding his ear in shame, with a slogan that read, "Main fail ho gaya, mujhe vote mat dena, 2025 tak main Yamuna saaf nai kar paya" (I am a failure, don’t vote for me, I failed to clean the Yamuna by 2025).

Verma criticized Kejriwal’s administration, suggesting that cleaning the Yamuna was not an insurmountable challenge. He outlined a plan involving the removal of silt using machines, the establishment of sewerage treatment plants, and the construction of water treatment facilities. Verma drew parallels with the Sabarmati Riverfront project in Gujarat, which was developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasized that the Yamuna Riverfront could be developed in a similar fashion and pointed out that 11 years is a sufficient timeframe to tackle the issue.

Yamuna pollution has been a longstanding problem in Delhi, with the river heavily contaminated due to untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and encroachments. Despite several attempts by the Delhi government, including the launch of the Yamuna Action Plan in 1993 and the more recent 'Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan,' the pollution levels have remained high. Kejriwal’s AAP government had promised to clean the river by 2025, but progress has been slow. The pollution is particularly concerning due to the health risks it poses to millions of Delhi residents who rely on the river for water and other resources.

BJP leaders have seized on public frustration over the unfulfilled promise, with Verma stating that the work required to clean the Yamuna is "not rocket science." He outlined that the removal of silt, which causes much of the river’s pollution, could be achieved through modern machinery. Additionally, he suggested the development of comprehensive sewerage and water treatment infrastructure to address the root causes of the pollution. Verma criticized the Kejriwal government for not taking effective action over the past years.

The issue of Yamuna pollution has also sparked debate among other political parties. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a BJP rally in Delhi, accused Kejriwal of turning the Yamuna into a "dirty drain" and referred to its condition as a "sin." Yogi challenged Kejriwal to demonstrate his commitment to cleaning the river by bathing in it, similar to his participation in the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav defended Kejriwal, stating that the Yamuna’s pollution is a result of long-standing issues and not just the fault of the current government.

Congress candidate Alka Lamba, contesting the Kalkaji seat, also criticized both BJP and AAP for using the issue as a political tool. She argued that if Congress were in power, they would focus on addressing the pollution without resorting to blame games. Lamba emphasized that practical solutions, such as improved waste management and water treatment, were needed to restore the river’s health. As the February 5 elections approach, the pollution of the Yamuna remains a central issue in the political discourse. With 70 assembly seats at stake, candidates are intensifying their campaigns by focusing on the river’s cleaning and development, making it a critical point of contention for voters in the capital.