Water sharing row: BJP leaders protest near Kejriwal's residence

DELHI Water Minister Parvesh Verma on Tuesday accused the Punjab government of indulging in a "conspiracy" to deprive the national capital of its due share of water, prompting a rebuttal from the AAP urging the BJP to "deliver on promises and not make excuses."

- ANUP VERMA @ New Delhi

The BJP on Tuesday held a protest near AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal's residence accusing him of taking revenge on Delhi people for his defeat in recent Assembly polls by stopping water to the city from his party-ruled Punjab. All 7 BJP MPs also submitted a memorandum to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in this regard.

Verma called the situation "a calculated attack on the people of Delhi by those who once ruled them." AAP strongly denied the allegations and accused the BJP of engaging in "cheap politics."

He said that Delhi's supply has been continuously reduced in the past six days—first by 88 cusecs on May 1 and then by 130 cusecs on May 5. The water supply from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to Delhi has been steadily decreasing from May 1 to May 5, Delhi's water minister said.