On June 21, Delhi’s Water Minister, Atishi Marlena, began an indefinite hunger strike in Bhogal, South Delhi, demanding an increased water supply from Haryana. Amidst the rising water crisis in the capital city, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Delhi, has been accusing Haryana of not providing the required water share.
The hunger strike saw the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as Atishi began her protest. However, on the second day of this ‘indefinite satyagraha’, neither Marlena nor other AAP ministers were seen at the protest site.
However, on the second day, the protest site was deserted. A video shared on the social media platform X showed that not a single minister or AAP worker was present.
Social media influencer Mr Sinha, who shared the video, commented, “INDEFINITE STRIKE of the Aam Aadmi Party… They sit there only for a few minutes, get clicked, give media bytes & then tata bye bye.”
INDEFINITE STRIKE of Aam Aadmi Party… They sit there only for a few minutes, get clicked, give media bytes & then tata bye bye….
Bunch of frauds.. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/tBtCcziUds
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) June 22, 2024
Later turned out that they had taken a lunch break.
On June 21, Sunita Kejriwal read out a message from the Chief Minister, who is currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail, expressing his hope for the success of Atishi’s ‘tapasya‘. He conveyed his distress over the water shortage faced by Delhiites amidst a severe heatwave.
Before heading to Bhogal, Atishi, along with Sunita Kejriwal, Singh, Bharadwaj, and other leaders, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
In a video message released on June 21, Atishi stated that her ‘Water Satyagraha’ would continue until the BJP-led Haryana government released Delhi’s due share of water. She accused Haryana of sending 110 million gallons per day (MGD) less water than required, affecting over 2.8 million people in Delhi. A spokesperson for Atishi reiterated this stance, emphasising the continuation of the protest until Delhi received its rightful water share.
जल मंत्री @AtishiAAP जी का दिल्ली के हक़ के पानी के लिए अनिश्चितकालीन अनशन का दूसरा दिन 🙏
इस भीषण गर्मी में हरियाणा की BJP सरकार ने दिल्ली के हक़ का पानी रोका हुआ है। कल भी दिल्ली के हिस्से के पानी से 110 MGD कम पानी भेजा गया है। जिस वजह से आज 28 लाख से भी ज़्यादा लोगों को पानी… pic.twitter.com/wqDZpKXNGY
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 22, 2024
Contrary to Marlena’s claims, Haryana’s government dismissed the allegations as baseless. Haryana’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister, Abhe Singh Yadav, stated that Haryana had supplied 1,050 cusecs of water to Delhi, far exceeding the stipulated 719 cusecs. He accused the Delhi government of politicizing the water issue and attributed Delhi’s water problems to internal mismanagement.
The AAP, which gained prominence from the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, came to power in Delhi in 2015. In 2013, the party campaigned against inflated electricity rates and water bills, organising the ‘Bijli Pani Satyagrah’ against the then Congress-led government. Now, with Marlena protesting while her own party is in power, the situation presents a different dynamic. Also, as their Chief Minister Kejriwal in jail on money laundering charges.
Currently, AAP is in coalition with the Congress, a party it once opposed.
Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticised Atishi’s hunger strike, suggesting it was a diversion from her failures. Swaraj argued that the Delhi government had ample warning about the long summer and should have prepared better. She highlighted issues like water leakage and theft, which led to significant water wastage, questioning the lack of a summer action plan by the Delhi Jal Board.
The Delhi Jal Board’s latest report indicated a drop in the city’s water supply to 888 MGD, the lowest this season and below the 900 MGD mark for the first time this year. This shortage has severely impacted many areas in Delhi, worsened by an intense heatwave.
Atishi noted that a 100 MGD reduction in water supply affects around 2.8 million people in Delhi. Despite a delegation travelling to Chandigarh to negotiate with Haryana officials, the discussions were unproductive, and Haryana further reduced the water supply over the last two days.
Haryana maintains that it has consistently supplied more water to Delhi than required. Data from May 23 to June 12, 2024, shows Haryana supplied 1,050 cusecs of water from the Munak Head to the Bawana point, well above the Upper Yamuna River Board’s mandate of 719 cusecs. Minister Yadav reiterated that Delhi should address its internal mismanagement instead of making unfounded accusations against Haryana.
Based on data from the Delhi Jal Board and statements from the Haryana government, the claims supporting the ‘Water Satyagraha’ appear to be flawed. The Haryana government has provided figures showing that they have been supplying more water to Delhi than required, contradicting AAP’s accusations.
The political context adds another layer to this issue. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea is currently facing an interim stay, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is grappling with various corruption allegations. These include controversies surrounding liquor policy, mismanagement in the Mohalla clinics, and now, issues related to water supply. The party appears to be in disarray, struggling to maintain its image amidst these scandals.
Critics argue that the ‘Water Satyagraha’ may be a move to divert public attention from these deeper issues and engage in a blame game. This tactic, however, is seen by some as an effort to mask the party’s failures rather than addressing the root causes of Delhi’s water woes.
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