The air quality in the National Capital Region has deteriorated to catastrophic levels over the past few days. People in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and surrounding cities have been gasping for breath, exposing the reality of tall promises made by ministers from state and central governments through the year. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, has fallen to ‘severe-plus’ levels. Covered in a thick toxic haze, the city seemed to be dipped in a permanent sepia tone for at least a few more days to come.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 494 on Sunday, the highest since November 6, 2016, when it was 497. As NCR choked and governments at the Centre and states came under fire from citizens for their ineffective approach to tackle the ongoing crisis, top politicians came up with bizarre solutions to tackle the severe air pollution.

While Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan suggested the citizens eat carrots to counter pollution-related ailments; Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, Prakash Javadekar, who allegedly cancelled three meetings on pollution prior to Diwali as per Aam Aadmi Party’s claims— decided to ignore it altogether. He went on to tweet about music and even posted a link of “scintillating thematic” music on Twitter, probably his way of dealing with the ‘severe-plus’ air quality.

Sunil Bharala, an Uttar Pradesh Minister, suggested the governments need to perform ‘yagna’ to tackle the air pollution! Defending the practice of stubble burning, he said that the yagna would please the god of rain, Indra — who in turn would make everything alright.

“Stubble burning produces very little smoke, it existed in ancient India. It is a natural process, not harmful to the environment,” he said.

Vijay Goel, another BJP Rajya Sabha MP went on to say that, he would violate the odd-even scheme put forth by the Delhi Government to tackle the air pollution. Why? According to him, it an ‘election stunt’.

Manish Tiwari, a Congress Spokesperson in the meantime, offered a very different view of air pollution and probably even denied its existence by saying, “A bright sunny day at our home in Chandigarh. Clean Green & Bright”. The thick haze of pollution over Delhi, is actually a message from the farmers and a way of drawing attention towards them – he implied.

However, even on Monday, though the pollution levels dropped marginally, air quality remained ‘severe’ across Delhi and major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 were at 500.