On Saturday, June 22, Delhi Police deployed water cannons to disperse activists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who were protesting against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over an acute water shortage in the city. The action, laden with irony, highlighted the severity of the ongoing water crisis.
The protest came in response to a significant reduction in Delhi's water supply. Delhi Water Minister Atishi had initiated an indefinite hunger strike on Friday in Bhogal, South Delhi, demanding additional water from Haryana. According to Atishi, Haryana had cut back Delhi's water supply by 100 million gallons per day over the past two weeks, affecting approximately 2.8 million residents.
Delhi's dependence on neighboring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, for its drinking water supply has made the situation particularly challenging. At the protest site, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, along with other AAP leaders, read a message from the chief minister, who is currently detained in Tihar Jail. In his message, Kejriwal expressed hope that Atishi's efforts would succeed in resolving the crisis.
Kejriwal shared his distress over the water scarcity affecting residents, especially amid severe heatwaves, as seen on television. The impact of the shortage has been deeply felt across the city, leading to public outcry and political confrontations.
The BJP protest, led by party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, took place at the Delhi Jal Board's Okhla filling pump. The protest saw a strong police presence, with officers resorting to the use of water cannons to control the crowd, according to a PTI report. The sight of water cannons being used on protesters rallying against a water shortage quickly became a focal point on social media.
Many social media users pointed out the paradox of the situation. One commenter noted, "Delhi police is using Water Canon on people who are protesting against the water shortage supply in Delhi." Another suggested, "Instead, the water tank could have been given to the protesters. They might have thanked the police for the water." The irony was further highlighted by another user who commented, "Only in India! Use a water cannon to quell a protest against a water crisis."
The water crisis in Delhi has not only caused public unrest but has also sparked political tensions. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena criticized the AAP government, accusing it of exploiting the situation for political gain and exacerbating tensions with neighboring states, which are also facing water shortages.
Saxena remarked that the inflammatory rhetoric from Delhi’s ministers has been both distressing and questionable, turning a severe crisis into a political standoff. He stressed that the focus should be on finding solutions rather than indulging in blame games.
The ongoing crisis highlights the fragile nature of Delhi's water supply and the critical need for sustainable solutions. As political leaders continue to clash over the issue, residents remain caught in the middle, struggling to cope with the severe water shortage that has gripped the city.