Delhi pollution row as BJP alleges Punjab stubble burning conspiracy
The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the BJP-led government of manipulating air quality data as smog covers the capital.
Delhi's air quality reached the edge of the 'severe' category on Monday, with several monitoring stations recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 400. According to reports from The Times of India, the deterioration occurred a day after Diwali celebrations.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra alleged a conspiracy involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. Mishra claimed that stubble-burning incidents in Punjab rose from 125 locations on November 7 to 1,200 on November 8, coinciding with Diwali. He stated that satellite data supports the claim that fields were set on fire deliberately and called for an investigation by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP-led government of data fraud. Bhardwaj alleged that monitoring stations were shut down and that 20 new AQI stations were placed in remote, green areas to misrepresent pollution levels. He also claimed water was being sprinkled on stations in polluted areas to manipulate readings, according to India TV.
Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the availability of pollution data, noting that PM2.5 readings were missing from 25 of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the night of November 8–9. Khera asked if the government was suppressing data or if equipment had been switched off.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also accused the AAP of allowing stubble burning in Punjab to worsen Delhi's pollution. He stated that the BJP government would require time to address the issue after years of inaction by previous administrations.