In yet another sign of Delhi’s deepening water crisis, residents of Sangam Vihar erupted in protest on Thursday after the BJP government removed water tankers from the area. Furious over days of severe shortage, locals — led by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Deoli, Prem Chouhan — confronted Delhi’s Water Minister Parvesh Verma during his visit, demanding immediate restoration of tankers or supply through pipelines. The situation turned tense as Delhi Police detained several AAP workers and local residents amid loud slogans accusing the BJP’s “four-engine government” of failing to provide even drinking water to the people of Delhi.
Even as temperatures continue to drop, Delhi is facing a worsening water crisis, prompting sharp criticism from, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj. He asserted that the BJP’s “Jhoothi Sarkar” (fraud government) of Delhi has removed water tankers from Sangam Vihar (Deoli Assembly), causing immense hardship to residents. “There is a severe shortage of water. Despite the cold weather and abundant water in the Yamuna — even fit for ritual use — why is Delhi suffering such a shortage?” he asked.
Saurabh Bharadwaj added that BJP’s Water Minister Parvesh Verma, who promised ₹1,100 during elections, faced public protest in Sangam Vihar on Thursday, as people demanded that the removed tankers be restored or water supply through pipelines be ensured.
During the protest against Water Minister Parvesh Verma, AAP MLA from Deoli, Prem Chauhan, said, “We have been continuously trying to meet the Water Minister. Residents of the Devli constituency have complained that earlier 20 government water tankers were provided here, but they have been withdrawn and diverted to the constituency of a BJP MLA. The people here are facing a water tragedy. Earlier, 70 tankers were supplied, and now their number too has been reduced. On top of that, the ₹31 crore fund allocated for Devli constituency has been withdrawn by the BJP government, halting road construction and other developmental works. These are genuine complaints from the people.”
Displaying complaint letters from residents, the AAP MLA said, “I will hand over these grievances to BJP Minister Parvesh Verma. These letters represent the voices of thousands of citizens who have approached me through petitions. But the police are stopping me and saying I cannot go there. Parvesh Verma is also a minister for the people of Devli constituency — he must listen to our concerns and resolve the water crisis. Local BJP leaders are making people’s lives miserable. Residents are being deprived of water, their tankers are being cut off or diverted elsewhere. The tanker mafia is thriving in Deoli, while the government remains completely blind, mute, and deaf.”
Prem Chauhan further said, “The basic facilities that the government had earlier provided in Devli constituency must continue. Tankers should not be removed, and the halted fund for road construction must be immediately released so that we can carry out development work for our people. The tankers that have been withdrawn must be reinstated. We are standing here only to demand water, and we must be allowed to meet Water Minister Parvesh Verma.”
He added, “The police are not allowing us to meet Parvesh Verma. The entire police machinery seems complicit in preventing the MLA from doing his work. The public is only asking for water — this is not a crime. We wish to meet the Water Minister peacefully. If the police permit, we will wait patiently and meet him in a peaceful manner. But if they continue to stop us, we will still try to meet the Minister and place before him the people’s grievances.”
