Politics
Delhi Air Quality Debate Intensifies as BJP, AAP, and Congress Clash Over Smog Data
By Vivek Dubey
A thick blanket of smog covered Delhi on Monday, with several monitoring stations recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 400, just a day after Diwali celebrations. The spike in pollution sparked a political exchange between the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Congress.
Delhi minister Kapil Mishra accused the AAP government in Punjab of orchestrating stubble‑burning incidents on Diwali to deliberately worsen Delhi’s air quality. Mishra said he and BJP leader Sirsa had received calls from Punjab farmers reporting field fires during the festival. After examining satellite data, Mishra claimed that stubble burning was recorded at 125 locations on November 7 but jumped to 1,200 on November 8, the day of Diwali. He demanded an investigation by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and called for FIRs against those responsible.
Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the BJP government for missing pollution readings. He noted that between 2 and 3 a.m. on the night of November 8–9, 25 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded no PM2.5 readings. Khera questioned whether the government had suppressed data, switched off equipment, or if pollution levels had exceeded the measuring capacity. He urged the government to explain the absence of readings.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also blamed the AAP for allowing stubble burning in Punjab to worsen Delhi’s pollution during Diwali, calling it a “well‑thought‑out conspiracy.” He further accused successive Congress and AAP governments of failing to address the pollution problem.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP government of manipulating pollution figures. He alleged that monitoring stations had been shut down, that 20 new AQI stations were installed in remote, green areas, and that water was being sprinkled over stations in polluted spots to influence readings.
The dispute highlights the intense scrutiny of Delhi’s air quality data amid the city’s ongoing smog crisis.
Frequently asked questions
What AQI levels were recorded in Delhi after Diwali?
Several monitoring stations recorded an AQI above 400.
How many stubble burning locations were recorded by satellite on November 8?
1,200 locations were recorded on November 8, up from 125 on November 7.
How many Delhi monitoring stations had no PM2.5 readings between 2-3 a.m. on Nov 8-9?
25 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations recorded no PM2.5 readings.