Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its handling of air pollution in the national capital, accusing the Delhi government of shifting blame to Haryana. Khera remarked, “This Delhi is worse than it was in 1998. For 15 years, Delhi improved when industries were removed, clean fuel was introduced, and CNG was brought in. However, in the last decade, all that progress has been wiped out.”
Khera further pointed out the ongoing blame game between the central and state governments, stating that the current administration’s failure to address pollution effectively was detrimental. “The central government blames the state government, while the state government blames the Punjab and Haryana governments. Now that they have formed a government in Punjab, they seem confused about whom to blame next,” he added.
In response to Khera’s comments, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that the opposition had no right to criticize the government. He highlighted the adverse conditions affecting pollution levels in Delhi, attributing the worsening air quality to decreasing wind speed and rapid temperature drops. Rai noted that pollution levels had reached the ‘Poor’ category in various hotspots, prompting a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to devise a plan of action.
Rai criticized BJP-led governments in neighboring states, asserting that they were “sleeping” while Delhi faced pollution challenges. He also referenced a Supreme Court order requiring the installation of smog towers in both Delhi and at the central government level.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla held a protest at a smog tower, condemning the AAP for failing to deliver on promises to make Delhi pollution-free. Poonawalla stated, “Delhi has become a gas chamber due to the blame game politics of the Aam Aadmi Party. They had promised to make Delhi pollution-free, yet the condition of the Yamuna and overall air quality tells a different story.”
He further criticized the AAP for locking the smog tower that cost ₹23 crore, questioning their commitment to tackling pollution. Poonawalla concluded that the AAP’s inability to manage pollution would be exposed, as residents of Delhi continue to suffer from hazardous air quality.
As a thick layer of smog envelops the national capital, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped to 293, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, prolonged exposure to air quality marked under this category can cause breathing discomfort for most people, while levels under the ‘Very Poor’ category can lead to respiratory illnesses.
