Dust storm chokes national capital
A severe dust storm that swept through the Capital overnight pushed Delhi’s air quality into the “poor” category on Thursday, reigniting political tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 236 at 8 am, which rose sharply to 292 by 4 pm. The spike, attributed to the dust storm, prompted a wave of political statements, with the AAP accusing the BJP of failing to manage air pollution despite being in power in Delhi and neighbouring states.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal posted on X, “Air pollution was never this bad during AAP’s rule at this time of the year.” Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi claimed that such high pollution levels in May were “unprecedented” in recent years.
AAP leaders alleged that under the BJP’s so-called “four-engine government”— a reference to the BJP ruling Delhi’s surrounding states — pollution control efforts have faltered.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj raised questions over discrepancies in AQI readings from different monitoring agencies.
“At Pusa, IMD shows 244, while DPCC shows 180. At Lodhi Road, IITM reports 284, and IMD 291. This misleads people about the real severity of the situation,” he said.
Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia termed the air “poisonous,” saying the city was covered in smog, causing health problems like irritation in eyes and sore throats.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh questioned whether Delhi had ever witnessed such poor air quality in May, adding, “Look at the magic of four engines. AQI has crossed 500.”
Quoting data, Atishi said: “From 2022 to 2024, AQI on May 15 never crossed 243. Today, the AQI is 500. Where is the Environment Minister? Will the BJP take responsibility?”
Responding to the accusations, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa defended the BJP, stating that the pollution surge was caused by a natural dust storm, not policy failure.
“It’s unfortunate that a former CM is using a natural sandstorm to score political points,” Sirsa said. He countered that it was AAP’s decade-long rule that left Delhi grappling with untreated waste and dust-laden roads.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also hit back, accusing the AAP of indulging in “deceitful politics.” He said the dust storm was a temporary natural event and AQI levels had already begun falling to between 250 and 300 in most parts of the city by noon.
“The AAP, which has been rejected by the people, is trying to remain politically relevant by exploiting even natural calamities,” Sachdeva said, dismissing Atishi’s letter to the Chief Minister as a “misleading political stunt.”
