Delhi pollution sparks row: BJP alleges 'conspiracy'; AAP and Congress question AQI data

BJP leaders blamed the previous Congress and AAP governments for failing to address the crisis

NEW DELHI: A thick blanket of smog engulfed Delhi on Monday, with air quality deteriorating to the brink of the 'severe' category a day after Diwali celebrations. As several monitoring stations recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 400, a political war of words erupted 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 and target the festival. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the Delhi government's pollution data, alleging that readings from several monitoring stations had gone missing during the night.

Kapil Mishra alleges conspiracy over Punjab farm fires

Delhi minister and BJP leader Kapil Mishra alleged that a sudden increase in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab on Diwali was a premeditated attempt to worsen pollution in the national capital.

He demanded an investigation by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and called for FIRs against those responsible.Speaking about the allegations, Mishra said he and BJP leader Sirsa had started receiving calls from farmers in Punjab reporting that their fields were being set on fire while they were celebrating Diwali at home.He said the claims initially appeared difficult to believe, prompting them to examine satellite data on stubble burning made available to the Government of India.

"We decided to find out the truth...We asked for data coming in through satellites for Govt of India on stubble burning. The data proves that this was a premeditated move, and fields in Punjab were set on fire," Mishra said.Citing the figures, he claimed that stubble burning was recorded at 125 locations on November 7, but the number jumped to 1,200 on November 8, coinciding with Diwali."How did it increase 10 times?...This is a really serious matter.

This is a conspiracy against farmers, against Diwali, against Delhi, against Punjab," he said.Mishra also urged the Punjab chief minister to investigate the alleged fires and examine the phone records of AAP members from Delhi who were in Punjab, claiming that a campaign had been launched two days before the festival to blame the BJP government for rising pollution.

Pawan Khera questions missing pollution data

Congress leader Pawan Khera took aim at the BJP government over the deteriorating air quality, alleging that pollution readings from several monitoring stations in Delhi were unavailable during the early hours of November 9.In a sharp attack, Khera congratulated Delhi for getting a "double-, triple- or whatever-engine Sarkaar", accusing the government of moving stealthily while allowing the city's residents to choke."There were no PM2.5 readings recorded at 25 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations between 2 and 3 a.m. on the night of November 8–9. WHY?" he asked.Khera questioned whether the government was suppressing pollution data, whether monitoring equipment had been deliberately switched off or whether pollution levels had exceeded the equipment's measuring capacity."Whatever the reason, the government owes the people of Delhi an explanation," he said.He further alleged that the absence of readings did not mean pollution had disappeared, warning that the toxic air continued to threaten people's health and life expectancy. He also accused the BJP of failing to acknowledge the severity of the crisis.

Praveen Khandelwal blames previous governments

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also accused the AAP of deliberately allowing stubble burning in Punjab to worsen Delhi's pollution during Diwali."This is a well-thought-out conspiracy. Aam Aadmi Party has a government in Punjab, and the people of Punjab are crying for help. Punjab decided to burn stubble vigorously so that Delhi remains polluted on Diwali and they can blame us for it," he said.Khandelwal also blamed successive Congress and AAP governments for failing to address the pollution problem, arguing that the BJP government would need time to reverse years of inaction.

AAP alleges manipulation of AQI readings

AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bhardwaj, meanwhile, accused the BJP government of manipulating pollution figures to present a better picture of Delhi's air quality.He alleged that monitoring stations had been shut down and that 20 new AQI stations had been installed in remote, green areas of the capital. He also claimed that water was being sprinkled directly over monitoring stations in polluted areas to influence readings.

"The government's data is based on fraud. We showed how monitoring stations were shut down, and how 20 new AQI stations were installed in remote, lush green areas of Delhi. Water is being sprinkled directly over the monitoring stations in polluted spots to manipulate the readings. People simply do not trust the government's AQI numbers; I certainly don't," Bhardwaj said.