On Saturday, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala visited the Yamuna River, just days before the Chhath Puja festival to highlight the growing pollution in Delhi.
During his visit, Poonawala criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of neglecting the capital’s environmental challenges throughout his decade-long administration.
Poonawala called on citizens to reject Kejriwal in the upcoming elections, citing the Chief Minister’s unfulfilled promise to restore the Yamuna to a clean state by 2025.
He stated, “Instead of being drinkable, the river has turned into poison. Rs 7,000 crore wasted in corruption, and the AAP government did nothing to clean the Yamuna. This is an insult to the river and Sanatan Dharma.”
Highlighting the significance of the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja, Poonawala lamented the impact of pollution on Hindu religious practices, describing it as a restriction on worship.
He further accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of being anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan, claiming that their failure to tackle pollution has rendered both air and water in the capital toxic.
“This is an insult to Sanatan Dharma,” Poonawala remarked.
The spokesperson also addressed the severe air quality issues plaguing the city.
“Delhi has become a gas chamber. People are forced to wear masks, and pollution levels have crossed 350 AQI. Kejriwal used to blame Punjab’s stubble burning, but today he claims helplessness in addressing the issue. The real causes—vehicle emissions, road dust, and construction pollution – ignored for a decade,” Poonawala further said.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index Hits 293 As Severe Pollution Plagues NCR
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirmed Poonawala’s claims, reporting that Delhi’s average AQI reached 293 as of Friday morning.
Surrounding areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) also exhibited troubling figures: Faridabad at 194, Gurugram at 196, Ghaziabad at 247, Greater Noida at 296, and Noida at 242.
In several regions of Delhi, the AQI readings are alarming, fluctuating between 300 and 400.
Notable areas suffering from severe pollution include:
- Wazirpur – 379
- Vivek Vihar – 327
- Shadipur – 337
- Rohini – 362
- Punjabi Bagh – 312
- Patparganj – 344
- Narela – 312
- Mundka – 375
- Jahangirpuri – 354
- Dwarka Sector 8 – 324
- Bawana – 339
- Anand Vihar – 342
- Alipur – 307
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