AAP Accuses BJP of Misleading Public Over Yamuna Cleanliness Ahead of Chhath Puja

New Delhi: As the festive season approaches, political tensions in the national capital have escalated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the BJP-led governments in Delhi and Haryana of staging a “clean Yamuna illusion” ahead of Chhath Puja. According to AAP, water was redirected from neighboring Uttar Pradesh canals to make the Yamuna appear cleaner for public optics and to influence voters ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Saurabh Bharadwaj, head of the AAP’s Delhi unit, claimed that the BJP deliberately diverted water from UP’s Eastern Canal through the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana to the Yamuna. The goal, he said, was to make the river appear less polluted before the celebration of Chhath Puja.

“The BJP’s deception has been exposed. They stopped the natural canal flow and directed water into the Yamuna to make it appear clean. This is nothing but a political gimmick to win Purvanchali votes before the Bihar Elections,” Bharadwaj asserted.

BJP Accused of “Cosmetic Cleanup” Using Chemicals

The AAP leader further alleged that the BJP attempted to “defame” the AAP government by misleading the public, accusing the ruling party of using chemicals to suppress froth on the Yamuna’s surface. “This is not genuine cleaning – it’s cosmetic treatment for cameras,” he remarked.

In contrast, BJP leaders have maintained that the Yamuna’s condition has significantly improved in the past eight months under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s administration, calling it a “historic turnaround” for Delhi’s environment.

Yamuna Water Diversion Explained

To illustrate the AAP’s allegations, the following table shows the flow changes claimed to have been made by the BJP-led governments in Delhi and Haryana:

Political Context: Purvanchali Votes at Stake

Former AAP MLA Vinay Mishra also weighed in, claiming that the BJP’s sudden concern for Yamuna cleanliness and Purvanchali welfare was politically motivated. “For years, BJP leaders opposed Chhath celebrations in Delhi, demolished ghats, and insulted people from Bihar and eastern UP. Now they act as if they care about Purvanchalis,” Mishra said.

Political analysts suggest that both AAP and BJP are aggressively courting Purvanchali voters – a significant demographic in Delhi – especially as the Bihar elections draw near.

Chhath Puja: Faith and Symbolism

The four-day-long Chhath Puja, celebrated from October 25 to 28, is one of the most significant festivals for Purvanchali communities, honoring the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya. The Yamuna ghats in Delhi traditionally witness thousands of devotees offering prayers and performing rituals during this time.

“Capital of Garbage” Row Intensifies

The dispute over the Yamuna coincided with another political flashpoint. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP accused the BJP, Delhi, and Central governments of turning the capital into a “city of garbage.”

On its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the AAP posted a satirical image showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta sitting atop a massive landfill heap. The caption read in Hindi: “Dilli ab kachre ki rajdhani ban gayi hai, BJP sarkar ke karan.” (“Delhi has now become the capital of garbage, thanks to the BJP-led government.”)

The image, marked with the hashtag #BJPExposedOnPollution, went viral online, sparking a fresh round of blame games between the two rival parties.

Yamuna Cleanliness Debate Continues

As the Chhath Puja approaches, the debate over the Yamuna’s real condition continues. While the BJP claims significant improvements in water quality, AAP insists the efforts are “superficial” and politically driven. Environmental experts, meanwhile, warn that temporary measures like water redirection and chemical treatment do little to address long-term pollution sources such as untreated sewage and industrial waste.

The controversy underscores how environmental and religious issues have become central to Delhi’s political battleground – with both parties seeking to shape public perception ahead of crucial state and national polls.