Foam Or No Foam? AAP, BJP In 'Dirty' Tussle After Delhi CM Promises 'Froth-Free' Yamuna For Chhath

Last Updated:October 16, 2025, 17:39 IST

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has promised that there will be no foam over the Yamuna during Chhath, claiming that this was not possible under the previous AAP government

Every year, pictures of people bathing in a foam-laden Yamuna during Chhath Puja go viral. (Image: AFP/File)

This is not the first time a political tussle has broken out between the AAP and BJP over the Yamuna before Chhath celebrations in New Delhi. This time, it is about foam over the river water, also called froth, which appears on the surface due to chemicals in the untreated sewage and industrial effluent discharged into it.  

Chhath, a festival that is celebrated by taking a dip in “holy" water to offer prayers to the Sun, is widely celebrated in Delhi. Every year, pictures of people bathing in the foam-filled Yamuna go viral. 

But, things could be different this year if Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is to be believed. She has promised a “froth-free" Yamuna for Chhath celebrations, claiming that this was not possible under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Soon after, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party hit back, accusing the BJP of spreading propaganda against the party and indulging in “dirty politics" over a Hindu festival.

Inspecting preparations for the festival, which is to be celebrated from October 25 to 28, at the Kalindi Kunj Ghat riverfront, Rekha Gupta said there was dense froth on Yamuna under the previous AAP regime and devotees had to stand in polluted waters.

“Now, you can see the clean water under the BJP government’s preparations…there is no filth or froth in the water," Gupta said. “This time, women holding the Chhath fast will offer ‘arghya’ to the sun god in clean Yamuna water…they will not face any filth or froth."

The AAP, however, claimed to have exposed the BJP’s “hypocrisy and lies", alleging this is propaganda and “Yamuna maiya and the people of Purvanchal will never forgive" the saffron party. The party alleged that the BJP government, which had accused the AAP of using a “poison" to clean up foam over the Yamuna, is now using the same chemical for this activity. 

“Hypocrisy and lies have become the identity of BJP! BJP minister Pravesh Verma once called this chemical poison, and today he himself is having it poured to remove foam from the Yamuna. Sanjeev Jha ji exposed BJP’s Propaganda Machinery by reaching the spot himself," the AAP said in a post on X, sharing a video of the “expose".

Commenting on the chief minister’s statement on the Yamuna, AAP leader Sanjeev Jha said she went to the same place where he went a day ago – by the Yamuna riverbank – and said there is no longer foam in the Yamuna as “defoam concentrate has been added there — and it is an environment-friendly chemical approved by the USFDA and NMCG".

“Now, just recall, three years ago, the same Pravesh Sharma was calling this very chemical ‘poison’ and being rude to the Jal Board officer. Today, the Chief Minister ji herself is saying — it is the same chemical, and it is completely safe. The meaning is clear — either Pravesh Sharma did not have the information at that time or he deliberately misled the public back then. And tried to defame the Delhi government," Jha said on X.

He added: “In other words, the truth was served wrapped in a package of lies. This video of the Chief Minister ji has proven that back then, BJP’s leaders were just relying on politics and rumors."

The AAP further shared videos of people showing the “dirty water" of the Yamuna. “Will people bathe in this dirty water? Millions of devotees come to Bhalswa Lake for Chhath Puja. The condition of the water is extremely poor. Why can’t the BJP’s 4 engines see the situation here? Rekha Gupta ji, false propaganda won’t achieve anything. Do some work…" the AAP alleged.

Responding to the videos shared by the AAP, the CM said the reality was before everyone to see, notwithstanding “fake videos" posted on social media. She said hundreds of Delhi government employees have been deployed to maintain cleanliness.

She said the river is being treated in a completely eco-friendly way, without any negative effects on either the water or the living beings in it.

Chhath is celebrated by Purvanchali people settled in Delhi in large numbers, six days after Diwali. The three-day festival requires women to fast and offer cow milk and Ganga water as “arghya" (an offering) to the setting and rising sun.

(With agency inputs)

Oindrila Mukherjee

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st...Read More

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st...

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News politics Foam Or No Foam? AAP, BJP In 'Dirty' Tussle After Delhi CM Promises 'Froth-Free' Yamuna For Chhath

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