On a tense Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court issued a sharp rebuke to the government of Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi, focusing on their handling of the ongoing water crisis that has gripped the national capital. In its critical assessment, the apex court highlighted a significant failure by the local government to address the issues perpetuated by the notorious 'tanker mafia', which has been a persistent problem in the city.

During the hearing, the justices expressed their frustration with the Delhi government’s lack of decisive action, despite clear evidence of the tanker mafia’s continued operations within the city limits. The court's dissatisfaction was palpable as they delivered a stern warning to the government officials present.

"Delhi tanker mafia is working, and you are not taking action and if the Delhi government can’t take action, then we can ask Delhi police to take action," the Supreme Court declared.

In a direct follow-up to their earlier remarks, a vacation bench consisting of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale escalated their demands from the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The bench specifically ordered the government to provide a detailed report on the actions they have taken to combat the pervasive issue of water mismanagement and the illicit activities of the water tanker mafia.

The justices mandated that the AAP Government must submit an affidavit by the close of business at 4 PM on the same day, outlining the steps they have implemented to address these critical issues. This directive underscores the urgency with which the court views the water crisis in Delhi, especially given the recurrent nature of the problem during the summer months.

During the session, the justices expressed their dismay at the apparent inactivity of the government in tackling this issue, which has been prominently featured in media reports. "We are seeing this in all channels. You are not doing anything in this regard. It is a recurring problem every summer. What have you done to prevent water wastage coming from all these sources…have you taken any action or FIR against any tanker mafias? Tanker mafias get water and pipelines are running dry." the bench added, clearly frustrated with the lack of progress.

In a fascinating juxtaposition, while the Supreme Court was severely criticizing the AAP government for its inadequate response to the water crisis in Delhi, the government itself was engaged in a very public dispute with the state of Haryana. The Delhi administration, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has pointed fingers at Haryana, accusing it of withholding Delhi's rightful share of water, thus exacerbating the water scarcity issues faced by the capital's residents.

This conflict came to a head on Monday, June 10th, when a significant protest was organized by members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), particularly involving women from Delhi. This demonstration was held right outside Haryana Bhawan, located in the Mandi House area, a strategic choice for highlighting their grievances directly to the neighboring state's representatives.

The protest saw active participation from prominent AAP leaders including Kuldeep Kumar, the party’s Delhi State Vice-President and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was joined by his colleagues Shiv Charan Goel, Vinayy Mishra, Somdutt Sharma, and Sarika Chaudhary, who serves as the President of the Women’s Wing of AAP. Their collective presence underscored the political urgency of the issue.

The demonstrators vehemently argued that Haryana's actions—or inactions—have directly led to a severe diminution of water supplies that are crucial for Delhi, especially as the city battles through another sweltering summer. They claimed that this not only affects the daily lives of millions but also poses serious challenges to water management in an already strained metropolitan environment.

As tensions continue to rise over the water crisis in Delhi, protesters took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of depriving Delhi of its rightful share of water. Chants and slogans against the BJP echoed through the crowd, reflecting a deep-seated frustration among the city's residents. The demonstrators emphatically demanded that both the Central and Haryana governments take immediate action to ensure the quick release of water allocated to Delhi, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

In the midst of these protests, an important conversation took place between Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor, V.K. Saxena, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. On Tuesday, June 11, they discussed the critical issue of water distribution. The office of the Lieutenant-Governor later released a statement clarifying that the Haryana government has indeed been releasing water to Delhi through the Munak canal, adhering to the agreed-upon allocations. This statement was aimed at shedding light on the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis and ensuring the public that steps were being taken to manage the water distribution effectively.

However, the same statement from the LG's office took a critical stance against the AAP government. It accused the ruling party in Delhi of contributing to the water crisis through mismanagement and alleged collusion with the tanker mafia. According to the LG’s office, the tanker mafia has been "stealing water from the canal in connivance with the ruling AAP," pointing to a significant breakdown in administrative control and oversight.

According to the LG's office, despite the clear evidence of water theft by tankers, the DJB has not taken substantial legal actions. "The custodians and owners of water coming into Delhi are the Delhi government and the DJB [Delhi Jal Board]. Tankers are stealing water from the canal but the DJB has never filed a complaint, leave aside an FIR with the Delhi police," stated the LG Office. This statement emphasizes a lack of proactive enforcement and regulatory actions, which are critical to managing the city's water resources effectively.

In response to these severe allegations, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has countered the claims made by the Lieutenant-Governor. The AAP labeled the statements from the LG's office as misleading, accusing Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena of 'lying'.