The battle over Delhi’s deteriorating air quality intensified on Thursday, with leaders from the Congress, BJP, and the former AAP administration trading barbs over who is responsible for the city’s toxic atmosphere.
Congress Slams “Double Failure”
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari launched a scathing attack on both the Central government and the local administration, describing the national capital as a “gas chamber.” Speaking to ANI, Tiwari questioned the Modi government’s 11-year tenure, asking, “What have they done?” He further held the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government accountable, claiming their combined inaction has made it impossible for the common man to breathe.
BJP Defends Record, Cites Scientific Necessity
Responding to the criticism, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat noted that the BJP only recently returned to power in the Delhi state government in February. She argued that the previous administration failed to form concrete policies over the last 26 years of non-BJP rule.
- Immediate Actions: Sehrawat highlighted the deployment of water sprinklers by the current Chief Minister.
- Future Strategy: She emphasized the need for a “scientific study” to identify and remove the root causes of pollution, promising that both the Centre and the Delhi Government remain alert.
Allegations of 11 Years of Neglect
Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma echoed these sentiments, alleging that the current BJP administration is cleaning up a mess left behind by “11 years of neglect” under Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. Verma listed several unfulfilled tasks from the previous decade, including:
- Cleaning the Yamuna River and improving sewage treatment.
- Managing e-waste and plastic waste.
- Removing garbage mountains and repairing civic infrastructure.
- Proper implementation of the electric vehicle policy.
As the smog continues to disrupt daily life—recently even halting an international cricket match in Lucknow—the political divide remains as thick as the haze covering the capital.