AAP, BJP lock horns as air quality hits season’s worst

As Delhi’s air quality plunged deeper into the ‘severe’ category on Sunday, the worsening pollution levels triggered a fresh war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

AAP attacked the BJP over the deteriorating air quality, alleging that the air quality index (AQI) had crossed 450 despite the stubble-burning season being over. “December is already half over, and the BJP government has completed almost one year. Today, there is no stubble burning anywhere in the country. Yet the level of pollution is such that if you are inside a closed room, there is haze all around and smog is visible even indoors,” AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj told mediapersons.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi recorded its highest AQI of the season on Sunday, 461, up from 432 a day earlier, as air quality remained in the ‘severe’ (401-500) category.

Mr. Bharadwaj said the most unfortunate aspect of the crisis was the absence of public confidence in governance. “What is even more tragic is that the people of Delhi do not know whom to look towards with the hope that something will be done. Should they look towards a Chief Minister who cannot even pronounce AQI properly?” he said.

Alleging a lack of basic understanding at the highest level, the AAP leader said, “This is the CM who says that AQI and temperature are the same thing, who claims that AQI can be measured by any instrument, and who believes that sprinkling water is the only way to reduce AQI.”

‘Stop political rhetoric’

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor hit back, saying while pollution levels had worsened, no local factors were responsible.

“The western disturbance prevailing across north India has stopped air movement, leading to the spike in pollution,” he said.

“Delhiites are asking Saurabh Bharadwaj and Congress leader Devender Yadav what steps their governments took between 2009 and 2020 when the pollution situation was steadily worsening… They want Opposition leaders to stop negative political rhetoric,” Mr. Kapoor said.