Delhi Police detained Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday as she protested outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, criticising the government’s failure to clean the Yamuna River.
Accompanied by a group of women from Purvanchal, Maliwal carried water from the Yamuna to highlight the severe pollution.
Speaking to the media, Maliwal described the river as being in critical condition, comparing it to a patient on a ventilator. She accused Kejriwal of neglecting the issue while enjoying a lavish lifestyle. She also challenged him to take a dip in the river to witness its condition firsthand.
Maliwal expressed the concerns of Purvanchali women, who celebrate Chhath Puja by offering prayers to the Sun God near the river. She claimed that the community felt betrayed by Kejriwal’s unfulfilled promises.
She further remarked that Kejriwal would face the anger of these women, who believe he has failed to provide clean water for their rituals.
The Delhi High Court recently refused to lift the ban on performing Chhath Puja on the Yamuna’s banks, citing extreme contamination. The court noted that nearly 1,000 alternative locations had been designated to ensure safe celebrations.
Standing by the river, Maliwal questioned the allocation of funds meant for Yamuna’s cleaning. She demanded accountability for the ₹7,500 crore reportedly spent on the project and accused Kejriwal’s government of mismanaging resources.
Maliwal’s criticism comes ahead of the Delhi elections on February 5, where she has intensified her attacks on the AAP government.
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