NEW DELHI — Amid an escalating water crisis, women across the national capital took to the streets on Monday, smashing earthen pots in symbolic protest against acute water shortages and contaminated supply. Led by the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) women’s wing, residents of Rajinder Nagar staged a matka phod demonstration, accusing the BJP-led Delhi government of turning the city into “a capital in crisis.”
The protest was led by AAP Delhi Mahila Morcha President Sarika Chaudhary, who strongly criticised the government for failing to provide clean and consistent water supply across the city. “From upscale colonies to village settlements, the water situation is dire,” she said. “The little water that is available is often filthy — it resembles sewer water.”
Highlighting the deteriorating quality of life under the BJP regime, Chaudhary remarked, “Access to clean water is a basic right, yet the BJP government has failed to fulfill even this fundamental responsibility. If this is the condition before the peak of summer, what can residents expect in July and August?”
Protesters, mostly women from different parts of Delhi, painted a grim picture of daily struggles — managing households without water, enduring foul-smelling supply, and falling ill due to contamination. “Under the AAP government, we had reliable water and electricity. Now, our taps run dry, and children fall sick from the dirty water,” said one resident.
Another protestor from Naraina said water is available for only 15 minutes a day, and it’s “unfit for any use.” Similar complaints were raised from Inderpuri and other areas, with residents alleging that roads are frequently flooded due to open drains and lack of maintenance.
The protesters also accused the BJP of fostering a tanker mafia, alleging that water is now a luxury only the rich can afford. “Tankers come at a cost — the poor are being punished for being poor,” said one of the demonstrators.
Women also expressed anger over the alleged inaccessibility and misconduct of local BJP representatives. “We have approached our MLA repeatedly, but he refuses to meet us. Just last Tuesday at Mangal Bazaar, he allegedly slapped street vendors. This is not how public servants should behave,” said one woman.
The protestors contrasted this with what they described as a more responsive and effective governance under former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “We had 24-hour electricity, clean water, mohalla clinics, and free bus travel. In just four months of BJP rule, Delhi is suffering — and five years still remain,” a protestor said.
The AAP has called on the local government to immediately restore a regular and clean water supply, dismantle the tanker mafia, and ensure elected officials are held accountable to the people.
