Delhi Election 2025 LIVE: Rahul Gandhi Dares Kejriwal To Drink Yamuna Water

Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday said the state government will get a case registered against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over his “poison in Yamuna” remark, which he dubbed an irresponsible statement aimed at spread panic among people.

“Kejriwal has made an irresponsible statement spreading panic among the people of Delhi and Haryana. Haryana government is going to get a case registered against him before CJM Court in Sonipat under the Disaster Management Act’s Sections 2 (D) and 54,” Goel said.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday took a sip of water from the Yamuna River in Delhi’s Palla Village, in response to claims made by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the contamination of the river.

Saini refuted Kejriwal’s allegations that the BJP-led Haryana government had poisoned the Yamuna, calling the statement an attempt to create fear for political gain. READ MORE

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday challenged AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to drink the water from the river, sarcastically suggesting that if he did, they would meet in a hospital. He also accused Kejriwal of engaging in corrupt practices, particularly referring to the alleged liquor scam in Delhi, which has been a major point of controversy.

Gandhi’s remarks were made in response to former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal’s claims about the contamination of the Yamuna River.

With the Delhi elections approaching, Congress launched its election manifesto on Wednesday, promising to carry out a caste census and establish a ministry for Purvanchalis if it comes to power in the capital.

The party, which lost power to AAP in 2013, also pledged a monthly grant of Rs 2,500 to women, free electricity up to 300 units, and LPG cylinders at Rs 500. Additionally, Congress promised free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh and free ration kits as part of its guarantees.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday have seized more than Rs 1.87 crore in cash in three different operations ahead of the assembly polls in the national capital. An official said that the Railway Unit, Northwest, and Southwest district police have collectively seized the money in separate operations.

The cash, suspected to be linked to illicit activities, was recovered during routine patrols and election surveillance, Delhi Police said.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday instructed the Election Commission of India to ensure that political parties and their candidates do not use any “vilifying” material during election campaigns.

A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the directive following a public interest litigation (PIL) that claimed spam calls and voice messages were being sent to the public from unknown numbers, urging them to vote for a particular party in exchange for freebies.

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Modi asserted that AAP has accepted its defeat in Delhi as there is a lot of anger in the public against their MLAs. He also claimed that the AAP and Congress have formed a secret alliance so that they can come together later and “grab power”.

“If this happens, Delhi will face double AAP-da. So, you need to go door to door and tell everyone to vote for the lotus symbol. AAPDA nahi sahenge badal kar rahenge (We won’t tolerate problems, we will change),” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the corrupt actions of these AAP leaders will drown in the Yamuna River and saying that Delhi won’t forget that a former Delhi CM made disgraceful allegations against Haryana.

“In ‘AAP-da’ walon ki lutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi…” he said. “They are spreading another rumor that the BJP will stop its schemes. Some people have this habit of lying.”

Prime Minister Modi compared the AAP to French serial killer Charles Sobhraj, saying the party “looked innocent but is an expert in looting”. He said the party lied to people of Delhi by showing their fake innocence and was attempting to mislead peopleby lying to them.

Escalating his attacks against the AAP, PM Modi said it should not be forgotten that the Kejriwal-led party questioned the valor of the Indian Armed Forces and demanded proof of the 2016 surgical strikes. “These people insulted the bravery of our soldiers. Today, I want to tell the people of Delhi that it’s time to punish those who betrayed Mother India,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi asserted that Arvind Kejriwal’s recent allegations on toxic Yamuna were not only an insult to Haryana but to the entire country and called on the people to punish them. “Their character is that of Indian citizens, but those who deliberately commit sin with ill intentions—Delhi will never forgive them, nor will the country ever forgive them,” he said.

“In this country, there are people who haven’t even built their own homes because they dug wells or built ponds for the villagers. Now, some people are making false accusations about our country, driven by the fear of losing elections. I firmly believe that this time, those who speak such lofty words will surely be taught a lesson by Delhi,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations against the Haryana government for ‘poisoning’ Yamuna, saying “a former Delhi CM” was rattled by impending defeat.

“I, as PM, drink the same water which comes from Haryana. Those who are abroad, at embassies around the world, they drink the same water. Even near the homes of the poor, the same water is found. Can anyone even think, did the Haryana BJP government poison the water to harm Modi? What are they saying?” he said during the Delhi rally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the public to give him a chance to serve Delhi and promised that he would take care of the national capital as a family member. “Your dreams are mine I will give everything to fulfil your dreams,” he said during a public meeting in Delhi.

“When it comes to Delhi, some ruled for 14 years, others for 11 years, yet the same traffic jams, the same filth, the same broken roads, the same dirty water flowing in the streets, the same pollution, and people still yearning for drinking water,” he added.

During a rally in Delhi today, PM Narendra Modi said the national capital wanted a government which provided houses and water to all citizens and got rid of the ‘tanker mafia’. “BJP aayegi aur AAP-da jayegi,” he said.

He also slammed AAP and Congress for doing nothing for the development in Delhi over the last 25 years and said the citizens desperately wanted a change. “These two parties have ruined two generations of yours in the last twenty-five years,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday acknowledged the loss of life in the Maha Kumbh stampede earlier today, expressing condolences to the family of the deceased.

“I express my sympathies with the affected families. Many people suffered injuries. I am constantly in touch with the Uttar Pradesh govt. For a brief time, the process of holy dip was obstructed but it has been going on smoothly for some hours now,” he added.

In its manifesto, the Congress promised to end all contractual jobs after 2025 in all fields – including education and civil defence. The party said it would regularise the jobs.

Congress also promised 33% reservation in government jobs, along with an increase of pensions for senior citizens and disabled persons from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000.

The Congress released their manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections, where the party promised:

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said Delhi is unmatched in terms of pollution and chemical contamination. “Right now, in Delhi, not about ease of doing business but ease of breathing,” he said.

Ramesh made the remarks while releasing the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Delhi elections. He blamed both the BJP and AAP for the current misfortune of Delhi.

A growing sense of excitement is being seen among the people ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega rally in Delhi today. “The entire ground will be filled as PM Modi’s rallies always create history. This time, the people of Delhi are also set to make history,” an attendee told IANS.

Delhi CM Atishi responded to LG VK Saxena’s letter over AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks on high levels of ammonia in Yamuna. Atishi lashed out at the LG and accused him of betraying the people he was supposed to serve.

“Your relentless defense of the Haryana government and your complete inaction against the contamination of Delhi’s water supply raise a critical question: where does your loyalty lie?” she said. “As the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, your constitutional responsibility is towards the people of Delhi and not towards your political masters.”

Former AAP leader Tahir Hussain, who is an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, conducted an election campaign in the Mustafabad assembly constituency for AIMIM.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted custody parole to Tahir Hussain to campaign ahead of Delhi Assembly polls from January 29 to February 3.

Prime Minister Modi will address a rally in Yamuna Khadar of Ghonda Assembly seat on Wednesday. This rally will cover two Lok Sabha constituencies – North East Delhi and East Delhi – and almost 20 Lok Sabha constituencies.

PM Modi will arrive at 12:30 pm in the national capital for the rally.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday repeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s claims on excessive pollution of the Yamuna River. “There are hundreds of industrial units in Sonipat and Panipat in Haryana. Their pollution is poisonous,” he said.

“If you are dumping it in river Yamuna without treating it, then it is a crime. The BJP which is questioning our cleaning programs for Yamuna is the same BJP in Haryana, where the waste of industrial units is dumped in Yamuna,” he further told ANI.

Rahul Gandhi’s full-fledged attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal is music to the ears of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Delhi elections.

The development has brightened the prospect of the Congress eating into AAP votes and the irony of the two former allies taking a dig at each other has been exposed before the electorate, senior BJP leaders have told CNN-News18. READ MORE

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, saying both are involved in Delhi’s governance. “The Chief Minister who is running the government, we will target him,” he said.

“The government in Delhi is somewhat BJP’s, but the Aam Aadmi Party is in power. We raised questions on BJP, and people rejected them from MCD,” Dikshit told IANS. “Now, when it comes to the Delhi government, people will also remove those who failed to manage it. Therefore, we criticize both the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP.”

The AAP lashed out at Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for becoming a stooge of the BJP and supporting the BJP-led Haryana government in the Yamuna ‘poisoning’ row.

“Instead of becoming a stooge of the BJP, the LG must take care of the people since he holds a constitutional post and responsibility,” AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar told ANI. “The level of ammonia in Yamuna has increased 700 times more than the permissible limit and it cannot happen automatically. Instead of questioning the Haryana Government, the LG is standing in support of the BJP-led Haryana government. This is shameful.”

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi expressed condolences over the Maha Kumbh stampede incident. “I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and give strength to their families to bear this sorrow. All devotees should maintain patience and follow the safety rules and instructions so that this event remains safe,” she said.

Several people are feared dead, and at least 30 women have been injured in a stampede-like incident at the Mahakumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering held at Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj.

The Delhi Assembly election voting is scheduled to take place in a single phase on February 5, 2025. The counting of votes for the total of 70 seats is set for February 8, 2025.

While the AAP government is aiming for a fourth consecutive term, the BJP has been out of power in Delhi for 27 years and Congress failed to win a single seat in the 2015 and 2020 elections. READ MORE

AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Tuesday slammed the BJP government, claiming that its policies have burdened the middle class with high taxes while diverting taxpayer money to select industrialists.

“BJP has levied tax on middle-class men over everything, they have broken the middle-class people by making them pay taxes. If you are earning Rs 10 lakhs, you are paying Rs 5 lakhs as taxes. So what should be done with that tax money?” she said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the ruling AAP in Delhi of making “fake” Aadhaar cards for illegal immigrants, and claimed it had committed a “sin” by doing so.

“The AAP made fake Aadhaar cards of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas to make them settle in Delhi,” he said, slamming the Arvind Kejriwal-led party for “appeasement” politics while campaigning for the BJP ahead of the assembly elections on February 5. READ MORE