New Delhi: Delhi Police detained Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday after she staged a protest outside the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. The protest was centred around the government's failure to clean the Yamuna River. Maliwal, along with a group of women from Purvanchal, arrived at Kejriwal's residence carrying water collected from the Yamuna.

Speaking to ANI, Maliwal described the river as being "on a ventilator," accusing Kejriwal of ignoring the situation while living in luxury. "Arvind Kejriwal has turned the Yamuna River into a drain. Black dirty rotten water is flowing in Yamuna. The river is on a ventilator, while Arvind Kejriwal is in his palace and roams around in luxurious cars. Thousands of women from Purvanchal have come here to challenge him- he should not be so scared of women and should come out and take a dip in the dirty water of Yamuna and take a sip of that water," she said.

Maliwal further claimed that the women from Purvanchal were equally disillusioned with Kejriwal for failing to deliver on his promises. She added, "The women of Purvanchal are saying that he will be cursed by Chhathi Maiya because the women have no other place to celebrate Chhath."

Delhi High Court's stand on Chhath Puja

The issue of Chhath Puja on the Yamuna's banks recently came under judicial scrutiny. The Delhi High Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the ban on the celebration, but declined to issue any directives due to the severe contamination of the river. The court also pointed out that nearly 1,000 alternative locations had been designated for the puja, with adequate arrangements made for the celebration.

Allegations of misuse of funds

Standing by the banks of the Yamuna, Maliwal raised concerns about the allocation of funds for the river's cleaning. "Yamuna River has transformed into a drain because of Arvind Kejriwal. I have come here with thousands of Purvanchali women, and the situation here is so bad that the stench has made it difficult for us to stand here. The Purvanchali women are going with me to Arvind Kejriwal's residence and want to ask him, where did the Rs 7,500 crores allotted for cleaning the river go?" she said.

Maliwal's criticism of AAP government

Maliwal, who has been vocal in her criticism of Kejriwal ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections on February 5, accused the AAP leader of not living up to his promises. On January 30, she had criticised him for his indifference to the growing garbage problem in Delhi, claiming that he had transformed from being an "Aam Aadmi" (common man) to a "Khaas Aadmi" (VIP person).

With ANI inputs