Delhi AAP questions BJP’s pollution control measures, cites missing data & firecracker nexus

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has hit out at the BJP government for failing to conduct artificial rainfall even as Delhi’s air turned toxic after Diwali, when banned firecrackers were openly burst alongside so-called green ones. Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj and former Environment Minister Gopal Rai questioned why the BJP government did not follow through on its own promise to cleanse the air through artificial rain on Tuesday.

“Does the BJP government want the people of Delhi to fall sick?” Saurabh Bharadwaj asked, reminding that the ruling party had claimed it would carry out artificial rainfall immediately after Diwali to bring pollution under control—but did nothing.

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During a media interaction, Bharadwaj said the BJP government has been deceiving the people of Delhi with false claims about ending pollution in the city.

He also raised concerns about the pollution data manipulation and unavailability on Diwali night. “Why was the CPCB’s data on Delhi’s Pollution levels of PM2.5 and PM10 unavailable for Diwali night? (from 7 PM, 20th October to 6 AM, 21st October) Why did most DPCC air pollution monitoring stations show missing data on Diwali night? Is the Government fudging pollution data now?” asked AAP Delhi unit chief.

Senior AAP leader also alleged a nexus between firecracker businesses and the Government, claiming the widespread use of regular firecrackers during Diwali. He claimed that the firecracker business is worth crores of rupees, and this year the firecracker lobby has earned enormous profits. “ How did it happen that apart from green crackers, banned firecrackers were sold openly?” Bhardwaj questioned.

In a post on X, the Delhi unit chief wrote, “Earlier there was a doubt that the BJP’s Delhi Govt had some arrangements with multi-crore ‘Fire Cracker Lobby’, but now it’s almost certain. Delhi Government’s District Magistrates, their teams and Delhi Police did not stop the illegal sales of normal crackers though the Supreme Court permission was for ‘Green Crackers’ only.”