Arvind Kejriwal blames BJP-led Delhi government for worsening air pollution, delays in GRAP-4, and alleged AQI manipulation. Delhi AQI hits 373 amid smog and traffic disruptions.

A day after Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders of deliberately burning waste to spike pollution, AAP Arvind Kejriwal hit back, blaming the BJP-led government in Delhi for the city’s worsening air quality. Kejriwal claimed that the high pollution levels in Delhi were the result of the BJP’s own administrative failures and not due to stubble burning in neighboring states.

“Pollution in Delhi is Its Own Doing”

Addressing a press conference in Punjab alongside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal said, “Earlier it was claimed that Delhi’s pollution is due to stubble burning in Punjab. But across Punjab, the AQI is between 70-100. There is no smog in Punjab, and hence no stubble burning. So whatever pollution is present in Delhi, it is its own doing.”

The former Delhi Chief Minister further alleged that instead of tackling the pollution problem, the Delhi government has been tampering with AQI readings. He claimed that the official AQI readings are manipulated by sprinkling water near AQI meters, while the real levels could be far higher, possibly exceeding 700-800.

GRAP-4 Implementation Delays

Arvind Kejriwal accused the Delhi government of delaying the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan Stage IV (GRAP-4), a set of measures designed to curb pollution during severe smog conditions. “GRAP Stage IV was only implemented on paper, while construction and other pollution-inducing activities continued unabated,” he said.

The Commission for Air Quality Management had announced the GRAP-4 measures after Delhi’s AQI entered the ‘severe’ category on December 13. However, Kejriwal alleged that the measures were not enforced effectively, worsening the city’s air quality.

also read:- Delhi Pollution Crisis: Minister Blames AAP Government…

AAP Fires Back at Accusations

The accusations of deliberate waste burning by AAP leaders, made by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday, were strongly denied by Kejriwal. Sirsa had claimed that AAP councillors were setting fire to waste to artificially increase AQI readings.

Kejriwal, in response, accused the BJP of ignoring pollution control measures and mismanaging the city’s air quality.

PM Modi and National Accountability

Arvind Kejriwal also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the central leadership has failed to address the capital’s air crisis. “The national capital has turned into a gas chamber, yet the Prime Minister has remained silent. How can pollution be controlled under such circumstances?” he questioned.

Earlier, Kejriwal also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, highlighting the national leadership’s lack of attention to Delhi’s escalating pollution.

Delhi AQI: Current Scenario

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached dangerous levels in recent days, with readings reported at 373 (very poor) at 4 pm on Thursday. The AQI was 334 on Wednesday and 354 on Tuesday, indicating a persistent deterioration in air quality. Dense smog continues to disrupt daily life, including traffic and air travel, in the national capital.