Summary: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with her ministers, marked Day 1 of her office with a symbolic “aarti” at Yamuna’s Vasudev Ghat. This ceremony, echoing rituals from Haridwar and Varanasi, was both a political statement and a pledge to clean the polluted Yamuna River. The BJP made Yamuna revitalization a key election promise, vowing to restore the river within three years. The plan includes the creation of a “Yamuna Kosh” fund, improved sewage treatment, and waste management. The BJP’s return to power after 28 years emphasizes tackling civic issues like pollution, which had become a point of contention with the AAP. The party’s commitment to environmental restoration and the Yamuna’s revival is now a key political and governance focus.
Delhi Chief Minister’s Day 1 Yamuna ‘Aarti’ Marks Key BJP Poll Plank: A Political Statement and Environmental Pledge
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with her newly appointed ministers, took a bold step shortly after assuming office by participating in a symbolic “aarti” at the Yamuna’s Vasudev Ghat. This river ceremony, inspired by the famous evening rituals at the ghats of Haridwar and Varanasi, was more than a mere ceremonial gesture. It was a political statement and an environmental pledge that reinforced the BJP’s promise of restoring the Yamuna, which once served as the lifeblood of the ancient city but has now devolved into little more than a polluted drain.
At a press briefing earlier in the day, just after her swearing-in ceremony, Chief Minister Gupta remarked, “We will fulfill all the promises we have made… At 5 PM, we will go to Yamuna Ghat for aarti. The cabinet meeting will be held at 7 pm.” The simplicity and symbolic power of the event were intended not only to mark the new administration’s first day in office but also to send a strong political message about the BJP’s long-awaited return to power after a 26-year hiatus.
As the newly-formed BJP government in Delhi focuses on one of its key poll promises—a cleaner Yamuna River—the “aarti” becomes a powerful symbol of the party’s commitment to environmental restoration. The BJP’s campaign in the lead-up to the Delhi assembly elections prominently featured the issue of Yamuna pollution, which has plagued the river for decades. The BJP’s pledge to clean the Yamuna within three years was a central promise, and it was reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the victory celebrations after the party’s triumph. In his speech, Modi vowed to make the Yamuna the “identity of Delhi,” emphasizing that the task, while challenging, was achievable if the will to restore the river was resolute.
“We will make Yamuna ji the identity of Delhi,” Modi stated, reinforcing his commitment to the cause. “I know this is not very difficult. No matter how much time it takes or how much energy is needed, with strong resolve, the blessings of Yamuna ji will remain with us.”
The BJP’s election manifesto, the “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Patra,” elaborated on the party’s approach to revitalizing the Yamuna. It promised the establishment of a “Yamuna Kosh,” a dedicated fund for the river’s revitalization, alongside a comprehensive riverfront development project aimed at reclaiming and rejuvenating the waterway.
To kick-start this ambitious cleanup plan, the Lieutenant Governor’s office unveiled a four-fold approach to address the river’s pollution. This strategy involves the removal of trash and silt from the Yamuna as well as from its primary contributing drains, particularly the Najafgarh drain, a significant source of contamination. Additionally, the government plans to expand sewage treatment capacity to 1,000 million gallons per day (MGD) and increase the capacity of common effluent treatment plants to 220 million liters per day (MLD). Regular monitoring of industrial effluents, sewage treatment plants, and waste management units will also be implemented to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup measures.
The initiative was already underway before Chief Minister Gupta’s oath ceremony. Officials from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office confirmed that removal of silt and trash had commenced on Sunday, four days ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. Skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredgers were deployed to begin the cleanup, signaling a prompt start to the long-awaited project.
The BJP’s victory in the recent Delhi assembly election, where the party won 48 of the 70 seats, was largely attributed to its strong stance on civic issues, including Yamuna pollution, air quality, and the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) failure to deliver on promises related to cleaning up the city. The BJP’s victory came after 28 years of absence from power in the Delhi Assembly, and the party capitalized on public dissatisfaction with AAP’s handling of environmental concerns despite years of control over the municipal corporation.
One of the major points of contention during the campaign was the deteriorating condition of the Yamuna. In the final stages of the election, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the AAP, accused the BJP-run Haryana government of “poisoning” the river. However, the BJP and Congress parties quickly responded by highlighting AAP’s inability to tackle the pollution issue, despite spending over ₹6,000 crore over the past five years without significant improvement.
In this context, the BJP’s focus on restoring the Yamuna has become a central issue in its political narrative. By beginning the cleanup efforts on Day 1 and incorporating symbolic gestures like the Yamuna “aarti,” the party is signaling its commitment to long-term environmental solutions while also reinforcing its political comeback. For Delhi’s residents, the promise of a cleaner, revitalized Yamuna represents a shift in governance priorities that resonates deeply with their everyday struggles with pollution and environmental degradation.
As the BJP’s cleanup efforts unfold, all eyes will be on the government’s ability to deliver on its ambitious promises. The commitment to making the Yamuna “the identity of Delhi” may be one of the most challenging undertakings of this new administration, but it is clear that the party intends to pursue this goal with both symbolic and tangible actions in the years to come.