Toxic air sparks political row in Delhi as BJP, AAP trade blame

Delhi’s deteriorating air quality on Tuesday became a political slugfest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) each blaming the other for the crisis. Delhi woke up to a toxic haze the day after Diwali as firecrackers bursting continued overnight in violation of restrictions set by the Supreme Court last week.

At a press conference, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the AAP-led government in Punjab was deliberately trying to increase air pollution in Delhi. “Over the past four days, stubble-burning incidents in Punjab have surged sharply — and this is no coincidence. Farmers are being pressured and provoked to burn stubble so that pollution in Delhi can be used politically to target the Delhi government.”

In response, AAP’s Delhi unit chief, Saurabh Bharadwaj called the allegations “shameful” and accused the government of “playing with the lives of people and children”.