'There has never been more than 35 deaths due to waterlogging': Amit Shah slams Kejriwal over civic upkeep

Amit Shah

With less than a week before Delhi heads to polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday doubled down on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying the AAP dispensation has completely failed in the upkeep of the city. Shah was addressing a public rally in Delhi's Rohini.

Speaking on civic infrastructure, BJP's star campaigner said in Delhi's history there is never been deaths of more than 35 individuals due to water-logging in the city. But, under the AAP government, last year, the city recorded many deaths due to waterlogging.

Shah also slammed the AAP convenor for building a "sheesh mahal" for himself instead of creating infrastructure in the capital during his nearly 10-year term as Delhi Chief Minister, saying the AAP convenor will have to give an account for it.

During last monsoon, the Delhi witnessed incessant rainfall that lead to severe waterlogging and traffic congestion in multiple parts of the city. Delhi saw an unprecedented weather pattern in August last year, with the national capital recording the highest rainfall in the last decade, days before the month even ended. With 269.9 mm of rainfall, recorded till August 22, Delhi exceeded the previous high recorded in August 2013, according to data from the IMD.

Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accused Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar of doing politics in the row over his claim that BJP-ruled Haryana "poisoned" Yamuna water to disrupt Delhi's water supply. Accusing him of seeking a post-retirement job, Kejriwal said he would send three bottles of Yamuna water to Kumar and his Election Commissioners and challenged him to drink the water.

Kejriwal's remarks came hours after the Election Commission shot off another letter to the AAP chief, who said his remark was made in public interest. The poll panel asked Kejriwal to submit factual evidence and respond to five questions by 11 am on Friday else it would take action against him.