Political Waters: The Battle for Yamuna's Clean Image Amid Chhath Puja Preparations

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Delhi and Haryana orchestrated the diversion of water from Uttar Pradesh's Eastern Canal into the Yamuna River. The move, AAP claims, was an attempt to present a false image of the river's cleanliness for the Chhath Puja festival.

Rejecting these allegations, the BJP attributed the improved condition of the Yamuna to the swift actions of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's government, describing it as a ''historic turnaround'' achieved within a mere eight months of her assuming office. Political tensions are escalating in Delhi as the Chhath Puja nears, with both parties exchanging accusations.

The cleanup of the Yamuna and preparations for Chhath Puja are gaining attention beyond Delhi, impacting the political landscape as the Bihar Assembly polls approach. AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj accused BJP of politicizing the river's cleanup to win the favor of Purvanchali voters. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva celebrated the river's improved water quality as a result of sustained efforts, despite former AAP MLA Vinay Mishra criticizing the BJP's opportunism with Purvanchali voters.