‘Promoting disharmony’: EC replies to Arvind Kejriwal’s response on Yamuna remarks
The Election Commission warned Arvind Kejriwal that his statements could harm relations between residents of Haryana and Delhi, causing lasting division.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday asked AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to file another detailed response to his claim that the Haryana government was “mixing poison” in the Yamuna, saying his remarks prima facie appeared to promote disharmony.
The poll body has said that the response must be submitted by 11 am on January 31, Friday, failing which it will take an appropriate decision without further reference.
“Coming back to your response on your statement under reference, Commission has prima facie found your allegations about poising of river Yamuna as promoting disharmony and enmity between different groups, and overall public disorder and unrest even by the most sober interpretation,” the Commission says in its letter.
The poll panel also warned the former Delhi chief minister that his statements could harm relations between residents of Haryana and Delhi, causing lasting division.
“As a prominent public figure and a former chief minister, the Commission need not remind you of the dire consequences that such utterances and actions of yours can have and leave permanent scars between well-identifiable groups of residents of two States and /or living together in the State of Haryana and NCT of Delhi,” the poll panel has written
The commission has asked Arvind Kejriwal for a detailed and specific response regarding the claim that “poison was mixed” in the Yamuna by the Haryana government.
It has sought clarity on key points, including the type of poison allegedly used, the evidence supporting this claim, the location where it was detected, and the engineers from the Delhi Jal Board involved in identifying and preventing its entry into Delhi.
The Election Commission has also emphasised that the reply should focus solely on these issues and not be linked to the ongoing matter of rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna River.
Kejriwal hits back at EC, accuses it of political bias
While addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Kejriwal accused the Election Commission of ignoring alleged malpractices in Delhi and acting with political bias, claiming that Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar was seeking post-retirement benefits.
“I want to say to the Election Commission with full respect that they cannot see money being openly distributed in Delhi, they cannot see blankets being handed out every day… The ECI is playing politics because Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar wants a post-retirement job. History will not forgive him,” said Kejriwal.
He criticised the Election Commission's language, saying it was inappropriate for the poll body. Kejriwal said that if CEC chief Rajiv Kumar wanted to engage in politics, he should contest in Delhi.
“The kind of language the Election Commission has used today is not its job. If Rajiv Kumar wants to do politics, he should contest from any assembly seat in Delhi… I will send three bottles of water to the Election Commission. We have 20 with us. If all three Election Commissioners drink that water, we will accept that we were wrong,” he added.
