The morning after Diwali, Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog, drastically reduced visibility, and hazardous air quality. With the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging into the ‘very poor’ category, the political blame game over pollution has reignited, primarily between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.
Political Fallout Over Stubble Burning and Rain
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya quickly placed the blame squarely on the AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal for failing to curb stubble burning in Punjab, where the Aam Aadmi Party holds power.
“Unless Arvind Kejriwal–ruled Punjab stops burning stubble, Delhi and NCR will continue to choke. Stop blaming Deepawali for the sins of the Aam Aadmi Party — it’s their smoke, not the festival’s lamps or firecrackers, that darkens Delhi’s skies,” Amit Malviya posted on X.
Malviya’s remarks followed Monday night’s festivities, where fireworks continued to be set off beyond the Supreme Court’s permitted two-hour window.
In response, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of failing to control pollution and questioning the absence of a promised solution.
“The government lies. The government said that after Diwali, we would fix all the pollution by conducting artificial rain. Did artificial rain happen? No, my question is that if you could have conducted artificial rain, then why didn’t you do it? Do you (the government) want people to fall ill. The government has a collusion with private hospitals,” Bharadwaj told ANI.
‘Very Poor’ Air Quality Across the Capital
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI stood at 352 at 8am, firmly placing it in the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400). Anything above 400 is considered ‘severe’.
The CPCB data indicated that 36 of the 38 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded pollution levels in the ‘red zone.’ Monday’s 24-hour average AQI was 345, also defined as ‘very poor.’
Call for Citizen Self-Reflection
Senior journalist and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sagarika Ghose struck a different, more introspective tone, urging citizens to acknowledge their own role in the crisis.
“Toxic smoke across Delhi this morning. Over 200,000 in Delhi have been rushed to hospital with emergency ARI (Acute Respiratory Illness) in the last year. We must collectively ask ourselves & introspect why we voluntarily choose to harm our own health,” she wrote on X.
The crisis highlights the severe public health challenges Delhi faces annually, driven by a combination of stubble burning, vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and seasonal factors like firecracker smoke.
Source: Hindustan Times
Related Posts:
Trump Threatens India of ‘Massive’ Tariffs Unless Russian Oil Imports End
INDIA: Hema Malini’s Secrets to Wellness at 77 – Fasting, Yoga, and a Pure Vegetarian Diet
President Trump Claims PM Modi ‘Assured’ Him India Will Stop Purchasing Russian Oil
