Kejriwal's Punjab visit ill-timed, says Maken

'CM addresses rallies while Delhi suffers water crisis

The Delhi Congress hit out at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s political tour to Punjab and questioned the need to travel out of the city while it was reeling under a water crisis.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken tweeted: “Delhi reeling under water crisis- Development at a standstill- But CM Kejriwal off to Punjab to hoodwink electorate- A shame!”

Maken said ever since the Jat protesters damaged a canal and disrupted the raw water supply to the city, the AAP government is struggling to bring the situation to normal.

“It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister has left Delhi suffering for addressing political rallies in Punjab,” said Maken.    

Kejriwal on Thursday started his five-day visit to Punjab, where Assembly elections are due early 2017.

The Jat protesters damaged the Munak canal, which brings from Haryana nearly half of the city’s total raw water requirement, on February 22. 

This forced shortage of water in West, North and Central Delhi.  The repair work on the canal is still on and normalcy may take another 15 days, according to Delhi Jal Board officials.  

Maken said Kejriwal’s ill-timed Punjab visit is another example of the lack of governance in the city. 

“Political ambitions of the AAP are proving costly for the city,” said Maken. Kejriwal does not want to work like a Chief Minister of a Union Territory and complains of hostility and the unfavourable Centre-Delhi government set up.

Can any Chief Minister leave a city fighting a water crisis for political activities in other states, he asked.

The Congress leader said the AAP government is continuing in the first anniversary celebration mood.

The Congress leader also slammed the Kejriwal government for wastage of public money on advertisements to highlight the achievement of his government.

The Delhi Congress, which is gradually trying to regain its political space in the city after successive electoral losses, has also filed several public interest litigations in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court to expose Kejriwal government’s failures.