Kejriwal allowed Yamuna to get polluted, forced Delhiites to drink its water: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday alleged that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal allowed the Yamuna river to get polluted and forced the people of Delhi to drink its water.

With people asking what happened to fulfilling his promise of making the Yamuna clean like the Thames river in London, Kejriwal is making an "excuse" by falsely accusing the BJP government in Haryana of mixing poison in the river, Shah charged while addressing a public meeting in the Rohini Assembly constituency.

He termed Kejriwal's accusation against the Haryana government "petty politics" and alleged the AAP government could not fulfil Kejriwal’s promise of cleaning the Yamuna during its 10-year rule due to "corruption".

"Kejriwal says people from the BJP have mixed poison in the Yamuna to trouble the people of Delhi. I have come to tell Kejriwal that he should stop telling lies to win the election," Shah told the gathering.

"Kejriwal, you polluted Yamuna and forced the people of Delhi to drink its water. And you offered all the money meant to be used in the cleaning of the river to AAP's corruption," he charged.

Shah alleged that Kejriwal is resorting to such "petty politics" after sensing his party's defeat in the upcoming assembly polls. "They keep making excuses... Kejriwal ji, leave (Delhi for the BJP) if you cannot do anything. We will show how Delhi can be better governed," he said.

The AAP means "lies and deception", he said, alleging that its government failed to fulfil any of its promises. Kejriwal made entire Delhi a "kind of dustbin" during the 10-year rule of AAP, the senior BJP leader added.

He was campaigning for BJP candidate Vijender Gupta who is contesting from the Rohini assembly seat, seeking a second consecutive term.

Shah also raked up the issue of alleged corruption during 10 years of AAP's rule in Delhi and alleged that scams worth crores of rupees were committed during its term under the leadership of Kejriwal.

AAP leaders were put in jail for their involvement in the scams, he said in an apparent reference to the arrest of Kejriwal and others in the Delhi excise policy case.

"You talk about corruption. You committed liquor scam, Jal Board scam, ration distribution, DTC bus scam, classroom construction scam, panic button (buses) scam and built a 'sheesh mahal' for yourself worth Rs 52 crore," he said.

The BJP often uses the 'sheesh mahal' jibe to attack Kejriwal with allegations of corruption in the renovation of the residence he used as the Delhi chief minister.

In an apparent potshot at Kejriwal, the Union home minister further said, "Such is the situation today that wherever he goes, he appears like a bottle of liquor to the people instead of a human being."

"You give a 'kattar imandar' (outright honest person) certificate to yourself. Kejriwal ji, it is people who give a certificate," he said. “Let the counting of votes take place on February 8, the AAP will be wiped out (in Delhi)."

Shah exhorted people to dislodge the AAP from power and give their mandate to the BJP to make Delhi the number one capital in the country. He said that BJP will make Delhi a beautiful and corruption-free city if it is voted to power.

"All garbage hills will be removed. City roads and lanes will be cleaned. There will be better water management in the city," he said. "Strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands and form a double-engine government (in Delhi) under the leadership of PM Modi".

Shah also held a road show in the Shalimar Bagh, addressed a public meeting in Wazirpur and another in the New Delhi assembly constituency, campaigning for the BJP candidates Bandana Kumari, Poonam Bhardwaj and Parvesh Verma contesting from the three seats respectively.

"You make Parvesh Verma win from this seat, Kejriwal’s (AAP) government will itself change in Delhi. If the future of Delhi has to be changed, its responsibility lies with the people of New Delhi (seat)," Shah said while addressing the public meeting.

Kejriwal, the AAP national convener and former Delhi chief minister, is contesting from the New Delhi seat, seeking another term in the assembly.

Shah assured people that the BJP would fulfil all of its poll promises if voted to power, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi does what he says. "In the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament, we will make the Waqf Act fine," he told the gathering.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a poll rally at Deer Park on February 2, where the BJP's allies are expected to be present.

Elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on February 5 and the votes will be counted on February 8.