Delhi Cong chief criticises AAP for rising pollution before Diwali

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president, Devender Yadav, has raised concerns over the alarming rise in the level of air pollution in the city, with many monitoring stations reporting the air quality index (AQI) being in the “very poor” category. With readings hovering between 301 and 400, hospitals in the city are already witnessing an increase in the number of patients presenting with symptoms of respiratory diseases and eye infections, leading to heightened worries among residents as Diwali approaches.

Yadav criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for failing to deliver on its promises of improving the air quality and addressing pollution in the Yamuna. “For years, the AAP government has assured citizens that it would clean up Delhi’s air and water, but these claims have proven to be empty rhetoric,” he stated, adding that the worsening air quality was expected to exacerbate health issues during the festive season.

“Kejriwal only speaks about the non-existent Delhi model of education and healthcare, while the real problems of air and water pollution remain unaddressed,” he said. “The toxic air and polluted water serve as clear evidence of the AAP government’s failure in governance,” he added.

Yadav pointed out that basic problems such as dust and vehicular pollution had not been adequately tackled, highlighting the poor condition of roads across the city. He recalled that after their release from jail, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders visited areas plagued by dust pollution, promising that all dilapidated roads would be repaired before Diwali.”