Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva takes a dip in the Yamuna river near ITO amid smog, in New Delhi.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday installed two ‘thrones’ on the banks of the Yamuna for chief minister Atishi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva took a dip in the polluted Yamuna and challenged Kejriwal to do it too. Later in the evening, the BJP said that Sachdeva suffered from a skin ailment due to the dip and had to seek medical attention.
As the winter pollution started in the city, Sachdeva and his supporters took a dip in the Yamuna, which already has white foam over it. He alleged that the money given by the Centre to the Delhi government to clean the Yamuna has not been used properly. He said that in the last eight years, the Central government had given a total of Rs 8500 crore to the Delhi government for cleaning the Yamuna. Sachdeva alleged that Arvind Kejriwal has embezzled the money received from the Centre.
Along with the pollution in Yamuna, Sachdeva also targeted the Delhi government for the poor condition of Yamuna Ghats in the Capital. “The Delhi government is not serious at all about a great festival like the Chhath Pooja. This is the reason why the condition of all the Chhath Ghats on the banks of Yamuna is in appalling condition. The government should work seriously to reduce the pollution of Yamuna,” he said.
To drive home the point, Sachdeva had red carpet laid out on the ghats and placed two thrones there – one for the chief minister and the other for Kejriwal. “We want CM Atishi and Kejriwal to come here and see the condition of the Yamuna. Let me remind you that Kejriwal had earlier promised that he will make the Yamuna suitable for taking a dip. But till date, the Yamuna has not become suitable for standing on its banks, let alone taking a dip,” Sachdeva said, after taking a dip in the river himself.
However, the BJP’s Delhi unit said on X that Sachdeva had to seek medical help after taking the dip.
“Delhi BJP President Shri @Virend_Sachdeva today exposed the Rs 8500 crore Yamuna cleaning scam of the Delhi Government and took a dip in the Yamuna river and sought forgiveness for the mistakes of the Delhi Government. Since afternoon, Mr. Virendra Sachdeva is experiencing red rashes on his skin, itching and mild difficulty in breathing. He just went to RML Hospital where the doctors examined him and gave him medicines for three days,” the post read.