Congress mocks Prime Minister over Delhi air quality index levels
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh used a 2024 election slogan to criticise the rising pollution in the national capital.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the worsening air pollution in Delhi. According to The Hindu, Ramesh adapted the Prime Minister's 2024 Lok Sabha election slogan, "Abki baar, 400-paar", to comment on the city's air quality index (AQI) crossing the 400-mark.
The Congress leader posted on X in Hindi that the slogan of the "pravachanmantri" (preaching minister) was becoming a reality in relation to the AQI. Ramesh claimed that Delhi has become the most polluted city globally and stated that the toxic air is making breathing difficult. He added that children and the elderly are suffering most and that hospital admissions are increasing.
Ramesh further remarked that while slogans were once thrown into the air, the air has now turned into poison. The city's average AQI was 367 on Saturday, down from 373 on Friday, which falls in the 'very poor' category. Out of 59 monitoring stations, seven recorded 'severe' AQI readings on Saturday morning.
An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed that Delhi's average PM2.5 concentration reached 236 micrograms per cubic metre in the week before Deepavali, the highest in three years. The city's average AQI had also breached 400 on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast a slight improvement in the coming days. Additionally, the India Meteorological Department suggested that rain could provide some relief.
