13 November, 2024; As air quality in Delhi-NCR plunges to hazardous levels, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has intensified criticism against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), holding them accountable for the rising pollution crisis in the region. On a recent public appearance, Poonawalla donned a gas mask to underscore the severity of the air pollution issue in Delhi and the surrounding areas, calling the city a “gas chamber” due to its dense smog.
Poonawalla highlighted that while AAP leaders have often attributed Delhi’s air pollution to external factors—such as stubble burning in neighboring states and festivals like Diwali—over 6,000 incidents of stubble burning were recently recorded within Punjab, which is governed by AAP. He criticized the party’s silence on Punjab’s contributions to air pollution this year, emphasizing that AAP continues to shift blame to neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, rather than addressing local factors that exacerbate Delhi’s pollution woes.
In his statement, Poonawalla further expanded the criticism to include environmental issues beyond air pollution, such as the pollution in the Yamuna River. He argued that the AAP government has failed to implement effective policies and solutions to address these crises, pointing out what he perceives as inaction and mismanagement on their part.
While the AAP government has previously argued that external factors like stubble burning, Diwali celebrations, and meteorological conditions heavily influence Delhi’s air quality, BJP leaders like Poonawalla continue to push for a focus on local measures, urging AAP to take stronger, more direct action in curbing pollution within Delhi itself.
The exchange between BJP and AAP underscores the growing urgency and public outcry around Delhi’s pollution crisis, as residents increasingly demand accountability and effective solutions to protect their health and well-being amid worsening air quality.
