New Delhi [India], October 17 : Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bhardwaj has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hypocrisy on the cleaning methods adopted of the Yamuna river ahead of Chhath Puja, saying that the Delhi BJP had earlier opposed the use of chemicals to clean the river but is now approving the same practice.
Bhardwaj recalled that before Chhath Puja in 2022, the Arvind Kejriwal government had sprayed chemicals to remove foam from the river, ensuring a clean environment for Chhath Puja devotees. However, BJP MP Parvesh Verma had then criticised the move, calling the chemical "poisonous".
"We have completely exposed the way the Delhi Chief Minister has been lying to the people of Delhi. Before Chhath Puja in 2022, when Arvind Kejriwal's government sprayed chemicals to remove foam in the Yamuna, Parvesh Verma came to the Yamuna and said that this chemical would make the Yamuna poisonous," Delhi AAP President said to ANI.
"Today, the same chemical that he called poisonous two years ago... the same chemical has been ordered by the Delhi Jal Board through a tender," Bhardwaj added.
Bhardwaj further said that the party has "completely exposed the lie" of how the ex-Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was falsely targeted by BJP leaders in 2022 over efforts to clean the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja.
"So, his lie has been exposed: out of malice, he did not allow the Delhi government to remove the foam to harass Chhath devotees so that the foam would remain and Chhath Puja would not be celebrated," Bhardwaj said.
These remarks come after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Minister Kapil Mishra, on Thursday inspected the preparations for the upcoming Chhath festival at Kalindi Kunj Chhath Ghat, highlighting a significant transformation in the state of the river waters.
During the inspection, CM Gupta praised the remarkable improvement in the Yamuna River's water quality, noting that sustained efforts have made the water suitable for aquatic life once again.
"This water is now in such a condition that aquatic creatures can live very well in it, whereas earlier, even a mosquito could not thrive in this water. Today, this water is suitable for our aquatic life... This is Delhi's achievement, and work is continuously ongoing in this direction," CM Gupta said to ANI.
Earlier, Minister Kapil Mishra on Chhath Puja said, "We are preparing for a grand Chhath Puja. Until last year, there was a ban on Chhath Puja in the Yamuna. When we sought information, there was no such court order. The Kejriwal government lied to the people of Purvanchal. This time, a grand Chhath Puja will be organised on the banks of the Yamuna. Arrangements for Chhath Puja are being made at 1,300 ghats. The Chief Minister herself is monitoring it. We are building modern Chhath ghats everywhere."
The Chhath festival begins with Nahay Khay on Saturday, October 25. The second day of Chhath Puja is known as Kharna, which is on October 26. Offering to the setting sun is on October 27, and offering to the Rising Sun is on October 28.