NEW DELHI: Chief minister Atishi on Monday raised alarm over the severe air pollution engulfing a large swathe of north India, describing the situation as a medical emergency caused by rampant stubble burning in several "BJP-led" states. Instead of addressing the crisis, BJP-led central govt is focused on political blame games, she alleged.
Hitting back, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, "On a day when Delhi expected drastic pollution relief measures, all CM did was a most irresponsible press conference on pollution to defend Punjab govt." He added, "She should note that the total number of 1,655 stubble burning incidents were recorded in Punjab on Nov 17 and 18 alone."
Atishi alleged that north India was choking because of central govt's inaction. Stubble burning incidents escalated in the BJP-run states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while AAP-governed Punjab registered a decline, she claimed.
Stating that the people of Delhi are in great distress and need help, CM said, "I received phone calls throughout last night. Some needed to admit their elderly parents to hospitals due to breathing difficulties while others had to rush to get asthma inhalers for their young children late at night."
She claimed that the official data on the reduction in stubble burning in AAP-run Punjab highlighted effective governance, unlike the approach seen in the states governed by BJP.
Delhi's air quality worsened to the ‘severe-plus' category on Monday, with the city recording an average air quality index of 484, accompanied by dense toxic smog that caused visibility to drop sharply through the day. The air quality is likely to stay ‘severe' till Nov 21.
Criticising central govt's handling of the situation, Atishi said, "The people of Delhi are struggling to breathe, with the elderly and children requiring medical support due to the severe pollution. Instead of taking action, central govt is busy playing politics, pushing the entire region towards a health crisis."
She questioned why central govt had not taken steps similar to those implemented in Punjab. "If Punjab govt can reduce stubble burning, why can't BJP-run states do the same? The rising pollution levels across north India highlight the failure of central govt's policies," Atishi claimed.
In response, Sachdeva said the data on stubble burning clearly showed that as of now, Punjab was the biggest offender because its govt had not provided the machinery to farmers to help them alternatively clear the stubble from fields.