New Delhi: Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday began an indefinite hunger strike here demanding release of more Yamuna water for the city from Haryana, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a message from Jail Tihar, hoped that his penance would be successful.
Sunita Kejriwal, who along with several AAP leaders was present when Atishi began his fast, read out the Prime Minister's message in which he expressed immense pain at seeing the plight of people suffering due to water scarcity on television.
Earlier in the day, Atishi along with Sunita Kejriwal and AAP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj visited Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of the launch of his ' Jal Satyagrah' in Bhogal.
In his message, the Prime Minister said, "It is our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighboring states. We expected support from neighboring states in such intense heat. But Haryana reduced Delhi's water quota." .
"Although there are governments of different parties in the two states, is this the time for above water politics?" he posed.
The BJP is in power in Haryana.
AAP leaders said Atishi will sit on the stage prepared for his indefinite hunger strike at a community hall in Bhogal for two hours each in the morning and evening. He will rest in a room at the community center for the rest of the day.
Atishi said he will not eat anything until Haryana releases Delhi's share of the Yamuna water.
He said Delhi is suffering from intense heat and the population's need for water has increased.
There is water shortage in Delhi and all its water comes from neighboring states, Atishi said, adding that his appeal to the Haryana government and a letter for help to Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not yield any results.
"Now I have no option but to go on an indefinite hunger strike as I cannot observe the plight of the men, women and children of Delhi. This indefinite Jal Satyagrah will continue till the people of Delhi get water from Haryana." she said.
For the last two weeks, Haryana has been giving 513 MGD water to Delhi instead of 613 MGD. More than 28 lakh people face shortage as Haryana stops 100 MGD of water, Atishi said.
Haryana has further reduced Delhi's water quota by 120 MGD in the last two days, she said.
The minister, in a post on X Morning, said that she was on indefinite hunger strike as, despite all her efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing all of Delhi's water.
She claimed that over the last two weeks, Haryana was releasing 100 million gallons per day (MGD) less water to Delhi against its share of 613 MGD. As a result, 28 lakh people in Delhi were affected, the minister said.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was present at the site of Atishi's hunger strike, alleged that on the day the people of Delhi handed over the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital to the BJP, the Prime Minister cut off their water supply.
The "cruel" BJP government in Haryana was making people of Delhi crave water during the intense heat, he claimed.
However, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj termed Atishi's fast as a "farce", alleging that it was a "political drama" to cover up her "inaction".
"Atishi is an unsuccessful water minister. Since February this year it was clear that Delhi would endure a long summer, but she made no preparation for it," Swaraj charged.
He questioned Atishi on why the Delhi Jal Board did not prepare a summer action plan and why her government did not ask for additional water from AAP-ruled Punjab instead of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The BJP MP alleged that many AAP leaders colluded with the oil mafia but no action was taken against them.
Sunita Kejriwal, who along with several AAP leaders was present when Atishi began his fast, read out the Prime Minister's message in which he expressed immense pain at seeing the plight of people suffering due to water scarcity on television.
Earlier in the day, Atishi along with Sunita Kejriwal and AAP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj visited Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of the launch of his ' Jal Satyagrah' in Bhogal.
In his message, the Prime Minister said, "It is our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighboring states. We expected support from neighboring states in such intense heat. But Haryana reduced Delhi's water quota." .
"Although there are governments of different parties in the two states, is this the time for above water politics?" he posed.
The BJP is in power in Haryana.
AAP leaders said Atishi will sit on the stage prepared for his indefinite hunger strike at a community hall in Bhogal for two hours each in the morning and evening. He will rest in a room at the community center for the rest of the day.
Atishi said he will not eat anything until Haryana releases Delhi's share of the Yamuna water.
He said Delhi is suffering from intense heat and the population's need for water has increased.
There is water shortage in Delhi and all its water comes from neighboring states, Atishi said, adding that his appeal to the Haryana government and a letter for help to Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not yield any results.
"Now I have no option but to go on an indefinite hunger strike as I cannot observe the plight of the men, women and children of Delhi. This indefinite Jal Satyagrah will continue till the people of Delhi get water from Haryana." she said.
For the last two weeks, Haryana has been giving 513 MGD water to Delhi instead of 613 MGD. More than 28 lakh people face shortage as Haryana stops 100 MGD of water, Atishi said.
Haryana has further reduced Delhi's water quota by 120 MGD in the last two days, she said.
The minister, in a post on X Morning, said that she was on indefinite hunger strike as, despite all her efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing all of Delhi's water.
She claimed that over the last two weeks, Haryana was releasing 100 million gallons per day (MGD) less water to Delhi against its share of 613 MGD. As a result, 28 lakh people in Delhi were affected, the minister said.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was present at the site of Atishi's hunger strike, alleged that on the day the people of Delhi handed over the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital to the BJP, the Prime Minister cut off their water supply.
The "cruel" BJP government in Haryana was making people of Delhi crave water during the intense heat, he claimed.
However, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj termed Atishi's fast as a "farce", alleging that it was a "political drama" to cover up her "inaction".
"Atishi is an unsuccessful water minister. Since February this year it was clear that Delhi would endure a long summer, but she made no preparation for it," Swaraj charged.
He questioned Atishi on why the Delhi Jal Board did not prepare a summer action plan and why her government did not ask for additional water from AAP-ruled Punjab instead of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The BJP MP alleged that many AAP leaders colluded with the oil mafia but no action was taken against them.