Political Clash Over Delhi's Winter Pollution Plan: AAP and BJP Dispute Firecracker Regulations as Diwali Approaches

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has accused AAP of "misleading Delhiites" as political tensions rise over air quality measures.

New Delhi:

With smog warnings threatening Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are engaged in a heated dispute regarding the capital's air quality management and firecracker regulations ahead of Diwali.

AAP leader Gopal Rai has strongly criticized the BJP-led Delhi government, claiming their Winter Action Plan exists "only on paper" while failing to implement effective green cracker regulations.

"The government is inviting applications for green cracker seller licenses just two days before Diwali. This will inevitably lead to toxic crackers being used, causing suffering for Delhi residents. They should have established a single-window licensing system much earlier rather than waiting until the last moment," Rai stated.

"Paper announcements are ineffective. After pollution increases post-Diwali, they'll simply implement GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan). The government has completely failed in managing firecrackers in a timely and safe manner," he further commented.

The BJP promptly responded to these accusations. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva claimed that AAP was "misleading Delhiites" and attempting to undermine the Supreme Court's decision permitting green firecrackers.

"Aam Aadmi Party is creating confusion in the media about pollution in an effort to pressure the Hon'ble Supreme Court into reversing its decision on firecrackers," he asserted.

"Currently, Delhi's weather is clear with pollution levels substantially lower than previous years. This year, Delhi will experience a harmony between culture and environment," Sachdeva added, suggesting the government's measures were proving effective.

Sachdeva accused AAP of hypocrisy regarding firecracker regulations, stating, "During AAP's governance, they misled Delhi residents and banned even green firecrackers. They presented inaccurate data to the court, misleading the judiciary. Now they're engaging in political theatrics."

As of Friday at 10 pm, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) registered at 255, falling within the "poor" category. Officials have reported that numerous measures under the 25-point Winter Action Plan are active, coordinated by more than 30 agencies with real-time enforcement dashboards.

According to official data, Delhi's dust control operations currently employ 86 mechanized sweepers, 300 sprinklers, and 362 anti-smog guns, with procurement in process for an additional 70 sweepers.

Enforcement teams are actively working throughout the city: 578 units checking vehicles, 443 patrols monitoring open burning incidents, and 953 PUC centers tracking emissions in real-time.