Day after Haryana's threat, Kejriwal says, 'No politics over water'

A day after Haryana's Irrigation Minister Om Prakash Dhankar virtually refused to supply water to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that there should be no politics over water.

Kejriwal said everyone should get water as people from Punjab and Haryana were also "like our own" in the national capital.

"Doing politics over water is not good as people from Punjab and Haryana are also our own like that of Delhi. Everyone should get water," Kejriwal told reporters.

When pointed out that Haryana refused to give water to Delhi, he said they have to supply water to the national capital.

Hitting out at Kejriwal for opposing the construction of Sutlej Yamuna link canal in Punjab, Dhankar had on Thursday written to the Delhi chief minister asking him to "get his own canal constructed for carrying Delhi's share of water".

"Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of the SYL canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana," the Haryana ninister had said in the letter to Kejriwal.

There had been acute water shortage in the national capital for over 10 days last month as Jat protesters, demanding reservations in jobs and education, had damaged Munak canal during their stir.

A large part of Delhi is dependent on water coming from Haryana and if the neighbouring state stops supply, it may again lead to water crisis.