Delhi Election Outcome 2025: In light of the BJP’s success in the Delhi Assembly elections on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rallied party members at the BJP headquarters with the declaration of “Yamuna Maiya Ki Jai.”
“During the election campaign, I pledged to transform Yamuna into the pride and identity of Delhi,” Modi asserted, promising to rejuvenate the river and reviving the controversy over the Yamuna’s pollution that emerged between AAP and BJP leading up to the elections.
What did PM Modi say about Yamuna in his victory address?
“Maa Yamuna represents the essence of our spirituality. We pay homage to Maa Yamuna devi, who continually wishes us well. However, these individuals (AAP) neglected Maa Yamuna and disrespected our beliefs. The faith of Delhi’s residents was trampled upon by these people (AAP), who then audaciously blamed Haryana,” PM Modi expressed to BJP supporters at the party’s headquarters.
“I have committed to this cause. Though I know this is a challenging endeavor that will require time, I believe that with strong determination, Maa Yamuna will bestow her blessings upon us, regardless of how long it takes and how much effort it demands,” Modi continued.
PM Modi expressed gratitude to the people of Delhi for their support in the BJP’s victory, claiming that the city was liberated from “AAP-da,” a clever play related to the Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP leader also highlighted that the citizens of Delhi are the true proprietors of the city and stressed that there is no room for shortcuts or deceit in politics.
What Causes Yamuna’s Pollution?
The river experiences severe pollution, especially around Delhi, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of its pollution load. In November 2023, faecal coliform counts, reflecting untreated sewage levels, surged to 7.9 million MPN/100ml, drastically surpassing the acceptable limit of 2,500 units.
Estimates indicate that 800 million litres of predominantly untreated sewage and 44 million litres of industrial waste are dumped into the Yamuna each day.
In Delhi, the sewage treatment capacity has been enhanced to process 35 million gallons per day, yet a significant volume of untreated sewage continues to seep into the river.
The pollution of Yamuna intensifies considerably as it traverses Delhi, with biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels soaring to 85mg/l at Asgarpur, which is 28 times the 2mg/l recorded at Palla, where the river enters Delhi, according to official statistics.
Why was Yamuna pivotal in the Delhi election campaigns?
Yamuna’s significance was amplified by preceding controversies. Just prior to the election, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had accused the BJP in Haryana of contaminating the Yamuna River water supplied to Delhi, a claim which PM Modi strongly disputed.
During a previous rally, Modi dismissed AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations as “repugnant” and an affront to both Haryana and all Indians, as well as to Indian traditions. He questioned whether Haryana would poison water that their own relatives, including the Prime Minister, consume in Delhi. PM Modi also noted that he had been drinking Yamuna water for the past 11 years.
