New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday took a dig at Election Commission chief Rajiv Kumar at the Election Commission of India (ECI) rebuked former Delhi Chief Minister over his allegations that the Haryana government "poisoned" the Yamuna River ahead of the Delhi polls. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief accused the ECI of doing politics and alleged that the CEC wants a job after his retirement,

Kejriwal's Remarks:

"I would like to tell ECI, that they can't see open distribution of money in Delhi...ECI is doing politics because Rajiv Kumar wants a job after his retirement. I would like to tell him that history will not forgive him. He has damaged the Election Commission unlike anyone else in the history of India," Kejriwal said during a press conference.

He also challenged the three Election COmmissoiner, including Kumar, to drink the water Yamuna water,” I know they will put me in jail within 2 days. Let them do it...If he wants to do politics, let him contest elections from any seat in Delhi...I will send three bottles (containing 7 PPM ammonia-contaminated water with chlorine mixed into it) to the Election Commission as well..., to Rajiv Kumar. Let the three Election Commissioners consume these in a press conference, and we will admit our mistake,” the AAP’s national convenor stated.

Kejriwal’s remarks came after the ECI expressed dissatisfaction with his reply on the Yamuna 'poison' issue. The poll body said that "no factual, legal matrix with evidence” has been provided to support his statement. The commission has granted Kejriwal another opportunity to explain why action should not be taken for his serious allegations promoting disharmony, the enmity between different groups, overall public disorder and unrest and asked him to file a detailed response by Friday 11 am.

ECI's Response To Kejriwal's Yamuna 'Poison' Charges:

The ECI had sought a reply from Kejriwal following a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sandeep Dixit of the Congress. The ECI had called upon the former Delhi Chief Minister, Kejriwal to furnish his response through the Commission's letter No. 437/ DL-LA/2025-NS-II dated January 28, on his statement.

The ECI has referred to Kejriwal's statement which is also posted on his X handle, especially "on the factual and legal matrix along with evidentiary support thereof, by 20:00 hours on 29th January 2025". "The Commission has received your reply on the complaints vide your communication No Nil dated 29th January 2025. Whereas, on examination, the Commission finds that your response is entirely silent on your public and widely circulated, during the campaign statement of "poising of river Yamuna by the Government of Haryana with intention to cause genocide in Delhi, equating it with an act of war between Nations and the fact that same was not only timely detected by the engineers of Delhi Jal Board but also stopped poisonous water at the border of Delhi," the ECI's letter reads.

"Needless to add no factual and legal matrix with evidence has been provided to support your statement. Whereas, instead of clarifying the factual and legal matrix of your statement you have chosen to justify your statement under question on high ammonia content in the river Yamuna in Delhi," said the ECI letter.

Kejriwal’s Charges:

Kejriwal on Monday levelled serious allegations against the BJP government in Haryana of “poisoning” the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi so that "people die" and the blame comes on the AAP. The former Delhi CM had alleged that the water supplied by Haryana had high levels of ammonia, around 700 times more than the permissible limit.

The Assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled to take place in a single phase on February 5 and votes will be counted on February 8.