BJP MP Manoj Tiwari Dips in Yamuna Ahead of Chhath Puja, Claims River Cleaned

On Thursday, October 30 2026, BJP Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari took a dip in the Yamuna River at Sonia Vihar, Delhi, and publicly tasted the water. He said the river’s pollution load had fallen by about half in the past year because of cleaning works carried out by the current government. Tiwari added that the presence of migratory birds along the river now indicates an improvement and that people can celebrate Chhath Puja in the Yamuna again.

The MP’s remarks came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced 43 projects worth ₹8,941 crore to clean the Yamuna and pledged that the stretch of the river in Delhi would be cleaned by May 2029. Shah also criticised the AAP and Congress for their role in the river’s pollution.

Tiwari’s dip was shared on X (formerly Twitter) with a video of him bathing and drinking the water, and he challenged AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi to do the same. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj responded by pointing out that a 26 km stretch of the river from Palla to Wazirabad has historically been cleaner and that the AAP government had maintained better water quality.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma has said that the upper stretch of the Yamuna between Palla and Wazirabad has been cleaned, while work continues between Wazirabad and Kalindi Kunj. He noted that it will take another two‑to‑three years for the entire river to be fully cleaned.

The event highlights the ongoing political debate over the river’s cleanliness and the effectiveness of government projects. Verification can be done by checking the official launch of the 43 projects, the progress reports from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, and independent water quality tests from the Yamuna.