Delhi Police on Monday detained Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal as she protested outside the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, demanding action over the government's failure to clean the Yamuna River.
Maliwal, accompanied by a group of women from Purvanchal, arrived at Kejriwal's residence carrying water from the Yamuna to highlight the river's deteriorating condition.
Speaking to reporters, Maliwal described the river as being "on a ventilator" and criticized Kejriwal for living in luxury while the Yamuna remains polluted.
She challenged the Delhi Chief Minister to take a dip in the river, saying, "Arvind Kejriwal has turned the Yamuna River into a drain. Black, dirty, rotten water is flowing in Yamuna. The river is on a ventilator, while Arvind Kejriwal is in his palace and roams around in luxurious cars. Thousands of women from Purvanchal have come here to challenge him- he should not be so scared of women and should come out and take a dip in the dirty water of Yamuna and take a sip of that water."
Maliwal further added that the women of Purvanchal are also upset with Kejriwal due to his unfulfilled promises, claiming that they believe "he will be cursed by Chhathi Maiya because the women have no other place to celebrate Chhath."
The Delhi High Court recently heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the ban on Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna. The court did not issue any directions, citing the severe contamination of the river. It pointed out that nearly 1,000 alternative locations had been designated for the celebrations, with adequate arrangements in place.
Standing by the Yamuna, Maliwal questioned the allocation of funds for its cleaning.
She said, "Yamuna River has transformed into a drain because of Arvind Kejriwal. I have come here with thousands of Purvanchali women, and the situation here is so bad that the stench has made it difficult for us to stand here. The Purvanchali women are going with me to Arvind Kejriwal's residence and want to ask him, where did the Rs 7500 crores allotted for cleaning the river go?"
Maliwal, who has been an outspoken critic of Kejriwal ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections on February 5, accused him of failing to fulfill his promises.
Earlier, on January 30, she lambasted Kejriwal for being "unbothered" by the growing garbage problem in the city, accusing him of shifting from an "Aam Aadmi" (common man) to a "Khaas Aadmi" (VIP).