BJP, AAP clash over Delhi pollution as Kapil Mishra targets Kejriwal, AAP hits back

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Diwali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) entering the ‘Severe’ category in parts of the national capital on Monday morning. The air quality station at ITO recorded an AQI of 406 at around 4.20 am, according to data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A thick layer of smog covered several parts of the city, reducing visibility during the early morning hours. The haze was particularly visible around the Inderlok area.

Several other locations continued to record ‘Very Poor’ air quality. Rajiv Chowk registered an AQI of 381 at 1.30 am, while the area around South Extension recorded 360 at 4 am.

As pollution levels worsened, political leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) traded accusations over the issue.

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra accused AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating a campaign against Diwali and Sanatan Dharma under the pretext of pollution. In a post on X, Mishra alleged that a meeting had been called at Kejriwal’s residence to plan the campaign, which he claimed would involve party leaders and celebrities.

"Word is that a meeting has been called at Kejriwal’s place. Starting tonight, a campaign will be launched to hurl abuse at Hindus’ festival of Diwali and Sanatan Dharma. Some of Kejriwal’s leaders and celebrities bought with money will run a campaign against Diwali and Hindus from morning onward," Mishra wrote.

He also blamed the AAP leadership for the pollution crisis in Delhi and Punjab, alleging that years of corruption had contributed to the problem.

"I want to tell Kejriwal that you know the truth too: the pollution in Delhi and Punjab is due to years of your corruption," he added.

Mishra urged the former Delhi Chief Minister not to allow party leaders to target the festival or Sanatan Dharma.

"I urge Kejriwal not to run a campaign against Hindus and Diwali, and not to commit the sin of having your petty leaders hurl abuse at Sanatan Dharma," he said.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, meanwhile, hit back at the BJP and the Central government, accusing them of failing to address air pollution across northern India over the past decade.

In a series of posts on X, Bharadwaj said several of the world's most polluted cities were in northern states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab. He questioned why the Centre continued to hold Delhi and Punjab responsible instead of taking charge of the wider regional problem.

"For the last 10 years, the Central Govt has been running away from its duty to control pollution in North India. The top 100 most polluted cities of the world, or the top 10, are mostly cities of North India — UP, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab. So it’s the Central Govt that should work on pollution. For 10 years, they used to blame Delhi; now they are blaming Punjab. When will the Central Govt take its responsibility?" Bharadwaj posted.

He also criticised the alleged violation of the Supreme Court's restrictions on firecrackers, claiming that pollution monitors had reached their maximum display limits.

"Pollution 999. Pollution readings reach their max on display. No one wants to stop at 10 PM. The Supreme Court knew the time limit of burning crackers cannot be enforced," he wrote.

In another post, Bharadwaj said he was relying on air purifiers to protect himself from the polluted air, while taking a swipe at BJP leaders.

"AQI 7 on Diwali. There is a hall with Air Purifiers; inside the hall, there is another smaller room with 2 Air Purifiers. That’s my hack to save my life from all those Nakli Sanatanis who want to kill our children by choking in poisonous air. Waiting to watch videos of Kapil Mishra, Manoj Tiwari, Rekha Gupta while bursting crackers. Thank you, BJP," he stated.

In a further post, he sarcastically remarked on the rise in pollution levels, writing: "AQI 3000 paar. Full credit to these brothers who raised pollution beyond 3000."

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Friday, two days before Diwali, amid concerns that pollution levels could worsen.

(With ANI inputs)