The ‘Jal Satyagraha’ started by senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi’s water minister Atishi is getting solid support from the constituent parties of the INDIA alliance. On Saturday, senior CPI leader D Raja reached the Satyagraha site at Jangpura’s Bhogal and extended his support. Apart from this, many AAP leaders, including Shri Gopal Italia from Gujarat, and Maharashtra reached and joined the Satyagraha. At the same time, in the evening, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Smt. Sunita Kejriwal also reached the spot and inquired about the well-being of water minister Atishi.
Atishi issued a video message and said that her Satyagraha will continue until 28 lakh people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana. Delhi gets 613 MGD water from Haryana but for the last few weeks, it is getting only 513 MGD water.
Senior leader of the CPI, D Raja, advised the Prime Minister to perform his duty. He said that Delhi is going through a serious water crisis. Do the Prime Minister and Home Minister have no concern for the people of Delhi? The Prime Minister should have taken the initiative to coordinate between Haryana and Delhi government, but he is not doing so. We appeal to the BJP’s Central and Haryana government to release Delhi’s due share of water.
AAP’s senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Singh said that as soon as Modi ji won all the seven seats in Delhi on June 4, the first thing he did was to get his Haryana government to cut off Delhi’s water supply. The Prime Minister should come forward and talk. If we are wrong, punish us, otherwise accept your mistake and give Delhi its full share of water.
When Haryana government was not ready to give water in any way, I had no option but to sit on Satyagraha: Atishi
Water Minister Atishi said that there is a huge shortage of water in Delhi. In such a scorching heat, when Delhiites needed more water, there is a short supply of water. Delhi does not have any of its own water. All the water that comes here comes from neighbouring states. A total of 1005 MGD (million gallons per day) of water comes to Delhi. Out of this, 613 MGD water comes from Haryana. But for the last several weeks, Haryana is continuously giving only 513 MGD of water. That is, Haryana is sending 100 MGD less water every day. One million gallons of water meets the demand of 28,500 people. If Haryana is giving 100 MGD less water, it means that more than 28 lakh Delhiites are not getting water. She said that I tried every possible way, but when the Haryana government was not ready to give water in any way, I had no option but to sit on a hunger strike. The people of Delhi are in so much pain, they are troubled. They are yearning for every drop of water. That is why I am on a hunger strike since Friday. I asked for all the data from Delhi Jal Board this morning but there is still a shortage of water today. Yesterday, 110 MGD less water came from Haryana throughout the day. This means that more than 28 lakh people were not able to get water today. I will sit on this hunger strike until the Haryana government provides water to the people of Delhi.
Aam Aadmi Party is not alone in water crisis protest; CPI is also with it: D. Raja
CPI leader Shri D. Raja said that the Communist Party of India supports this movement of Delhi’s water minister Atishi. Delhi is the national capital of the country and has the status of a Union Territory. Delhi has its own elected assembly, but it has not got the status of a full state. In this situation, the Delhi government and the Aam Aadmi Party are struggling to solve the problems of Delhi. At present, Delhi is going through a serious water crisis, due to which the poor people are facing the most problems. Atishi has raised this sensitive issue. Water is the basic need of the people. Many people are dying due to this scorching heat and heat wave. In such a situation, how can people survive without water?
Shri D. Raja said that we (CPI) have come here to express our support to the Aam Aadmi Party that the AAP is not alone in this struggle. We are with you in this fight. The question is what is the central government doing at such a time? What are Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah doing? Does the PM have no responsibility towards Delhi? Does he not care about the people of Delhi?
Central Government should instruct Haryana to release Delhi’s share of water: D. Raja
Shri D. Raja stated, “We condemn this attitude of the Central Government. Prime Minister Modi always talks about cooperative federalism, but where is his cooperation at this time? Atishi is demanding the Haryana Government to release Delhi’s share of water. Prime Minister Modi should understand that Haryana is adjacent to Delhi. He should take the initiative to coordinate between Haryana and Delhi Government, so that the water crisis can be resolved. But the Prime Minister is not doing so. Therefore, the Delhi Government cannot remain silent. We have to raise our voice and fight.”
He added that there is no shortage of natural resources in India, but to ensure that it reaches everyone, it is important that the states cooperate with each other. The Delhi Government is appealing to Haryana to release water. I also appeal to the Haryana Government to release water for Delhi. Being the national capital, people from different parts of the country come to Delhi every day. I also appeal to the Central Government to direct the Haryana Government to release water to Delhi. There should be mutual coordination between the governments, but the Central Government thinks that it will escape by blaming the Delhi Government and its minister for everything.
The CPI leader stated, “Prime Minister Modi should understand that this kind of politics will not work. In the last general elections, the people of the country taught you a big lesson. The Constitution says that India is a union of states. Prime Minister Modi, you should not take the people of Delhi for granted. If this continues, the people of Delhi will stand up against your partiality,” he said.
Modi Government has failed to help Delhi so far: D. Raja
Expressing his support to the Aam Aadmi Party’s Water Crisis Protest, Shri D. Raja said that the Communist Party of India appeals to the Central Government to help the Delhi Government and the people of Delhi. We are with not only Atishi, but the people of entire Delhi. Our national capital should not go through such a water crisis. This crisis should be resolved as soon as possible. We cannot depend only on rain; Delhi should get its due share of water from Haryana. Also, the central government should perform its duty. Prime Minister Modi and his government have failed to help the Delhi government. The people of Delhi should not be left like this in this hour of crisis.
Delhi has been getting 1005 MGD water from Haryana since 1994, while population of Delhi has increased significantly in these 30 years: Sanjay Singh
Senior AAP leader and MP Shri Sanjay Singh said that on one hand the BJP people are busy breaking the water pipeline and vandalizing the Delhi Jal Board office, on the other hand the Aam Aadmi Party, Shri Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers have done a great job to supply water to unauthorized colonies. Over 11,000 kilometres of pipeline has been laid across Delhi. In 1994, when the population of Delhi was less, even then our water quota was 1005 MGD and today after 30 years, despite the increase in the population of Delhi, this quota of water has not been increased. As soon as Modi ji won the election on June 4, the first thing he did was to stop Delhi’s water supply from the Haryana government. Prime Minister Modi is solely responsible for the crime committed by the double engine government of Haryana.
In every religion, giving water to thirsty is biggest virtue, but BJP is making Delhi yearn for every drop of water: Sanjay Singh
Shri Sanjay Singh said that during the floods in Kerala, all the MPs were told that they can give Rs 1 crore to Kerala from their MP fund. Then, I first gave Rs 1 crore to the people of Kerala. Being born in the soil of this India, it is our responsibility that if any disaster strikes any part of the country or the world, we should always come forward to help. Our Hindu religion talks about the welfare of all, but Prime Minister Modi has taught us to stop the water of people by making them yearn for every drop of water. In every religion, giving water to the thirsty is the biggest virtue, but today these BJP people have become so ruthless that they are stopping the water of the people of Delhi. They had already stopped 100 MGD of water, but from the day Atishi started fasting, they reduced the water by 117 MGD on the second day and 110 MGD on the third day. That is, the water shortage of 28 lakh people has now increased to a problem of 30 lakh people.
Atishi is sitting on hunger strike for people of Delhi, melting her body with truth and honesty: Sanjay Singh
Shri Sanjay Singh said that the BJP people are not concerned about the people of Delhi, rather they are tweeting that the venue of the Aam Aadmi Party’s Satyagraha is empty, why is Atishi going inside again and again. These fraud BJP people do not know that whoever sits on hunger strike is regularly examined by a doctor. Atishi is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike for the people of Delhi, melting her body with truth and honesty. I want to tell Prime Minister Modi, his cabinet minister and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to come face to face and talk. If we are wrong, then punish us, if you are wrong then accept your mistake and give the people of Delhi their rightful share of water. This is a big fight, and we have to support Atishi in this. Atishi will sit on the stage and hold meetings in the morning and evening and people will put forth their views. This is not the responsibility of Atishi alone; this is the fight of all Delhiites.
28 lakh families of Delhi are not getting water; Delhiites are watching who is doing politics? Dr. Sandeep Pathak
AAP’s National General Secretary (Organization) and MP Dr. Sandeep Pathak said that there is chaos in Delhi regarding the water problem. We folded our hands in front of the BJP central government to get our rightful water, went to LG and also requested the Haryana government. But we did not get our rightful water. Therefore, being a sensitive government, we will use whatever tools and weapons are available to us. Delhi’s rightful water is its right, which it should get. Therefore, we had no other way left except to sit on hunger strike, through which we could solve the water problem. Even if we leave aside the talk of our rights and do not get into any debate, we still live in India. In India, even an ant is fed food and even the dead ancestors are given water. In such a country, if 28 lakh families of Delhi are not getting water, then is it not the responsibility of the Haryana government to come forward and cooperate and earn virtue by providing water? If the BJP people are finding the fast to be a drama and show, then the people of Delhi are seeing who is doing politics on this water crisis.
Despite CM Kejriwal being in jail, Atishi is fighting for people of Delhi with full force: Ram Niwas Goyal
Delhi Assembly Speaker Shri Ram Niwas Goyal said that despite repeated requests to the Haryana government, water was not released. This matter reached the Supreme Court, but no solution was found. The Haryana government did not pay heed. The Union Jal Shakti Minister was also requested that Delhi is a part of the country, the water problem of the people here should be resolved. But none of the Prime Minister, Home Minister or Water Minister took cognizance of it. The Chief Minister of Haryana also did not listen to us and Delhi LG also did not make any effort. As a result, Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi has had to sit on a hunger strike, and this is probably the result of the fact that it was cloudy and rained on Friday.
Modi ji did not give us any blessing, but the Almighty has blessed us. Even today the weather is fine. Gradually the demand for water will be balanced. Whether Haryana releases water or not, I hope that it will rain in Delhi in a few days and the water shortage will be resolved. Till then the hunger strike will continue. Atishi is fighting for the people of Delhi with all her might. She is fighting at a time when our leader Shri Arvind Kejriwal is in jail. The people of Delhi are with her.
BJP’s high-handedness can only be answered by Satyagraha: Gopal Italia
Former state president of the Aam Aadmi Party, Gujarat, Shri Gopal Italia said that the country got independence only through Satyagraha. In a way, Satyagraha is the culture of our country. When we need something and the governments are not listening to us, then Satyagraha is a way to get our demands fulfilled by becoming the voice of the people by following the path shown by Gandhi ji.
He said the Aam Aadmi Party, which emerged from the struggle, is once again in the field of struggle. We all have seen that when a brother goes somewhere for a struggle or fight, the sister ties a Rakhi to him and says that the sister’s strength is with the brother. Today, our sister is sitting on Satyagraha, so it is the brother’s responsibility to stand with her. No matter where she is in the world. Atishi ji is our elder sister. When a sister starts fighting, the brother should not stay behind, added Shri Gopal Italia.
He further said that the Aam Aadmi Party needs Shri Arvind Kejriwal. But right now, he is not among us, the BJP has put him in jail by making a fake case. Therefore, we all have to move forward by standing shoulder to shoulder and supporting each other. The BJP has created a ruckus. Its answer can only be given through Satyagraha. He said that assembly elections are going to be held in Maharashtra. We will go from Delhi with the message of giving a good shock in the Maharashtra assembly elections. The resolution that Atishi ji has taken for the water satyagraha also requires a very strong morale. Without morale, no person can take such a big resolution. We will win this battle together. The time is difficult, but it is not that the time will never change.
States have always supported each other in times of crisis in country, but BJP is doing politics: Jasmine Shah
Senior AAP leader Shri Jasmine Shah said that it has never happened before in the country that politics has been done on the crisis of a state. States have always supported each other in times of crisis. But due to Prime Minister Modi and the BJP, politics has stooped to such a low level that today the people of Delhi are thirsty, and the BJP government of Haryana has stopped 100 MGD water for Delhi. This water meets the water needs of 28 lakh people of Delhi daily. Despite this, today BJP is not asking its government in Haryana to release water for Delhi. All seven BJP MPs in Delhi and the central government are silent on this.
He said that in 1994, the Upper Yamuna Board had fixed 1005 MGD water per day for Delhi, at that time the population of Delhi was 1.1 crore, whereas now it has become 3 crores, but Delhi still gets the same amount of water. The Delhi government has demanded to increase this water for years, but the central government is not supporting it and the BJP of Haryana has opposed it. Now, the BJP’s Haryana government has further reduced the water supply. On Thursday, Delhi got 888 MGD water, which is the lowest ever. On Friday, 117 MGD less water was supplied and today again 110 MGD less water was supplied.
Sunita Kejriwal visits Satyagraha site to know about Atishi’s health
CM Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Smt. Sunita Kejriwal reached the hunger strike site on Saturday evening to know about the health of Water Minister Atishi, who has been on a Jal Satyagraha since Friday. Atishi, hurt by Delhi not getting its share of water despite repeated requests to the Central Government and Haryana Government, is on a hunger strike. Saturday was the second day of her hunger strike. Doctors checked her health in the morning itself. During this, CM’s wife Smt. Sunita Kejriwal also reached the hunger strike site and enquired about her health. She remained present at the protest site for some time and boosted the morale of Water Minister Atishi. She said that the entire party stands with Atishi and the people of Delhi. We will ensure that Delhi gets its rights.
AAP leaders from Gujarat, Maharashtra join Jal Satyagraha
A large number of the Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers from Gujarat and Maharashtra also reached to support the indefinite water Satyagraha started by Water Minister Atishi from Friday. Apart from Gujarat’s former AAP president Shri Gopal Italia, Maharashtra’s state president Ajit Phatake, vice president Shri Dhananjay Shinde, Shri Vijay Kumbhar, organization minister and many other people from the Aam Aadmi Party came from Maharashtra. Shri Gopal Italia said that today we will take a pledge from here that in the coming days thousands of workers from all over Maharashtra will come to support the Satyagraha.
Health check-up of Water Minister Atishi who sat on Satyagraha
Atishi, who sat on indefinite Satyagraha to get Delhi its rightful share of water, was checked by doctors on Saturday at around 1.30 pm. On the second day of the fast, her blood pressure and sugar level have dropped. Also, due to not eating anything, her weight has also decreased. Atishi, who is fighting for Delhi’s rightful share of water, says that no matter how much pain she has to bear, she will continue her fast until Delhiites get their rightful share of water
