Air pollution in Delhi reached ‘hazardous’ levels this week as Diwali celebrations continued across the country. The Supreme Court had recently relaxed its blanket ban on fireworks — permitting the conditional sale and use of green fireworks. The BJP has repeatedly hailed the decision and insisted on Tuesday that the current pollution levels was linked to stubble burning in Punjab.

BJP flags ‘stubble burning in Punjab’

“Unless Arvind Kejriwal–ruled Punjab stops burning stubble, Delhi and NCR will continue to choke. Stop blaming Deepawali for the sins of the Aam Aadmi Party — it’s their smoke, not the festival’s lamps or firecrackers, that darkens Delhi’s skies. Their dark shadow still looms large over the Capital,” insisted BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also reiterated the accusation — showing videos of purported stubble burning in Punjab during a press conference to support his claim. He also claimed that AAP leaders had erroneously “condemned the Delhi CM, the BJP and Sanatan Dharm followers over celebration of Diwali and bursting of crackers”. The real reason behind worsening air quality, Sirsa explained, stubble burning in Punjab.

“The farmers in Punjab are being forced to burn stubble in the fields by the AAP government. The highest number of parali burning incidents occurred in AAP-ruled Punjab on Diwali night…We admit with pride that our government has given people a chance to celebrate Diwali in our traditional way. Due to firecrackers, there is only an increase of 11 points in AQI after Diwali,” he said.

Meanwhile Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said those who burst firecrackers beyond 10 pm on Diwali (a violation of the Supreme Court verdict) behaved “irresponsibly.” The minister, however, emphasised that bursting firecrackers was not the sole cause behind the spike in pollution in the national capital.

“Their 11-year tenure has just ended. We have been repeatedly saying that it will take us 2-2.5 years to bring Delhi to a health-friendly and breathable condition. Despite that, the same people who polluted Delhi make such statements, and it makes me laugh. Currently, Diwali is celebrated with green firecrackers. There is happiness among the people of Delhi. The AQI, which used to reach the dangerous category in September, is still below that in October,” added BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in conversation with ANI.