The AAP on Thursday accused BJP-led governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh of manipulating water flow to temporarily improve the appearance of the Yamuna river ahead of the Chhath Puja festival.
AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj shared a video on social media platform X, claiming it showed the Eastern Canal in Uttar Pradesh, which originates from Haryana’s Hathnikund Barrage, to be completely dry. He alleged this was a deliberate move to divert water meant for farmers into the Yamuna.
According to Bharadwaj, the water diversion is intended to dilute pollution in the river and create a false impression of cleanliness during the important festival.
“BJP’s lie has been caught. To reduce Yamuna’s pollution ahead of Chhath, the BJP stopped the UP canal’s water flow. Haryana’s BJP government diverted all water meant for UP farmers from Hathnikund into the Yamuna,” he stated.
The AAP leader claimed this was part of a pattern where additional water is released before Chhath Puja each year to make the river appear cleaner for the festivities. He alleged the current measures are more extreme, with complete diversion of canal water to avoid public anger over pollution, particularly with Bihar elections approaching.
Bharadwaj explained that by stopping the flow in the Eastern Canal and directing all water into the Yamuna, the increased volume would dilute polluted water from drains and reduce visible froth. He further claimed authorities would use defoaming agents to enhance the river’s appearance.
The BJP has not yet responded to these allegations. The claims come amid ongoing concerns about Yamuna pollution and the importance of Chhath Puja, when many devotees perform rituals in the river.