"Political drama," says BJP Delhi chief on Minister Atishi's hunger strike
Jun 22, 2024
New Delhi [India], June 22 : Delhi unit BJP Chief Virendraa Sachdeva termed the indefinite hunger strike of Delhi Minister Atishi against the water crisis a "political drama" to distract attention from alleged water theft.
Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said, "This is a new 'Satyagraha' of the Kejriwal government, where you stay in an AC room for 18 hours after protesting for 4 hours... It is just a political drama to distract from the matters of water theft, tanker mafia and black marketing..."
Replying to a query on the water crisis in Delhi, the BJP leader said, "Haryana is releasing the full amount of water. I have spoken with the Haryana Chief Minister... The officials in Delhi have repeatedly accepted that the Haryana government is releasing water more than is required".
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Atishi, who is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against the water crisis, said on Saturday that she tried "everything" but was left with no choice but to sit on a fast when the Haryana government didn't agree to supply the required quantity of water.
"This is the second day of my fast. There is an acute shortage of water in Delhi. Delhi receives water from its neighbouring states. Delhi receives a total of 1005 MGD of water that is supplied to the houses in Delhi. Of this, 613 MGD of water comes from Haryana but for the past several weeks, it has been releasing only 513 MGD. Due to this, more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not receiving water. I tried everything but when the Haryana government didn't agree to supply water, I was left with no choice but to sit on a fast," Atishi said in a video posted on her X handle.
The AAP leader, who is also the Water Minister in Delhi government, began her strike on Friday at Bhogal, near Jangpura. She was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and other party leaders.
Meanwhile, Sunita Kejriwal wife of Arvind Kejriwal, read a message from the Chief Minister, who is under judicial custody, and said Arvind Kejriwal is 'hurt' to see Delhi's public suffering from water scarcity.
"Kejriwal says that when I see on TV, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' will succeed and residents of Delhi will get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her," she stated.
