Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa recently claimed that Delhi experienced its cleanest day of the year, attributing it to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s efforts. This statement came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism regarding the city’s deteriorating air quality. Gandhi, in a post on X, highlighted that with the BJP ruling both the central government and the national capital, citizens expect tangible improvements in air quality rather than mere excuses. He also shared a video detailing his personal struggles with breathing difficulties and burning eyes due to the pollution, even considering moving his mother, Sonia Gandhi, out of Delhi. Gandhi emphasized that while pollution’s impact is felt most acutely during certain periods, the damage to the city is ongoing throughout the year.
In a direct rebuttal, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused Gandhi of attempting to defame Delhi and its government. Sirsa released a video, reminding Gandhi that Delhi’s air quality first began to decline during the Congress’s 15-year rule and that the most polluted days were recorded during the combined 25-year tenure of the Congress and AAP governments in the city. Sirsa also pointed out that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday was 309, an improvement from 382 on the same day last year when the AAP government was in power. He stated that the current government is working to resolve the air quality issues, which he described as a legacy of previous administrations.