Protest at Delhi Jal Board office leads to smashed windows; AAP sees BJP hand, it hits back | Delhi News
A protest against the lack of water outside the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) office in South Delhi’s Chhattarpur ended in the glass windows of the premises being smashed by earthen pots.
Delhi Minister Atishi alleged former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri led the attack. She also alleged that BJP Yuva Morcha district president Dheeraj Singh Rajput was part of the violent protest and that BJP flags were visible during the protest.
A senior Delhi Police officer said men and women who had gathered outside the office broke the glass using pots. CCTV footage of the incident has been collected, he added.
“We’ve received a complaint in the vandalism incident inside the Delhi Jal Board office in Chhattarpur from an official of the agency on Sunday evening… We are looking into it. The scene has been inspected by the crime team and statements of witnesses will be taken before an FIR is lodged,” the officer said.
Ex-MP Ramesh Bidhuri did not respond to calls seeking a response. The Delhi BJP said the party does not approve of any kind of violence but whatever happened at Chhattarpur was not a “case of violence”.
Delhi BJP Vice-President and Kalkaji councillor Yogita Singh said, “The BJP does not approve of any kind of violence but whatever happened today was not a case of violence. The entire South Delhi is parched, there is no water supply for days at a stretch. Be it local AAP MLAs or DJB employees, all have been evading people.”
At a press conference Sunday, Atishi said the attack was part of a conspiracy and shared footage from the incident that purportedly showed people wearing BJP sashes throwing pots and stones at the DJB office.
“First, the BJP is stopping water supply to Delhi through its government in Haryana. You go to Wazirabad Barrage, there is not a drop of water… If the BJP will not provide water to Delhi, if water will not reach the treatment plant, then how will water be supplied?” she said.
She also questioned the leakage in pipelines. “Yesterday (Saturday), the main pipeline that supplies water to South Delhi from Sonia Vihar was broken… was this another part of a conspiracy under which water pipelines are being damaged?” she asked.
She added, “The third step of their conspiracy has come to light, in which BJP ‘goons’ vandalised the DJB office.”
She also urged the police to take action. “We have complained… Now, we will wait to see whether the Delhi Police will file an FIR against Ramesh Bidhuri…,” she said.
Singh hit back and said, “During a demonstration today, the people of totally parched Chhattarpur grew restless and threw a matka leading to breaking of a glass pane… it is shocking to see Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj calling parched demonstrators goondas… Delhiites will never forgive such ministers…”
