Protests, chaos mar pollution debate for fourth consecutive day

The Delhi Legislative Assembly failed to take up a discussion on air pollution for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as protests and disruptions by ruling BJP and opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs continued inside the House.

The winter session, which had earmarked time for a debate on Delhi’s air quality and pollution control measures, remained stalled due to protests over remarks allegedly made by Leader of Opposition Atishi during a debate earlier this week.

Repeated disruptions forced the Speaker to adjourn the House several times over the past four days, leaving no time for discussion on pollution.

For the past three months, Delhi has been battling ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ air quality, with pollution levels remaining high across several parts of the city.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the issue of pollution had been pushed aside due to political disruptions. “Pollution is not a political issue. It is about the health and well-being of millions of Delhiites and needs a fact-based, solution-oriented debate,” Sirsa said.

He said the Assembly session had been extended by one day to ensure the issue is discussed.

Sirsa accused the previous AAP government of failing to control pollution during its 11-year rule. “People of Delhi should know what the previous government did or failed to do in the name of pollution control. The challenges we face today are the result of years of policy paralysis and avoidance of responsibility,” he said.

He said the current government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, had taken steps within 11 months. “We have delivered some of the cleanest air days Delhi has seen in recent years,” Sirsa said.

Referring to the disruptions, Sirsa said, “Due to objectionable language used by the Leader of the Opposition with reference to revered Guru Sahibs, the House lost two crucial days without any discussion on pollution.”

The minister also pointed out that Atishi was absent from the House for the last two days. “She kept asking why pollution was not being discussed, but when the opportunity came, she was not present,” he said.

The AAP, however, accused the BJP of deliberately sabotaging the Assembly session to avoid debate on pollution, contaminated drinking water and law-and-order issues.

AAP Chief Whip Sanjeev Jha said, “More than 50 people in Delhi have reportedly lost their lives due to pollution and extreme cold, while murders are taking place in broad daylight every day.”

He claimed that after insulting Bhagat Singh earlier, the BJP was now dragging the name of Sikh Gurus into partisan politics to deflect scrutiny from governance failures.

Jha said the AAP had written to the Speaker demanding strict action against BJP leaders, including Minister Kapil Mishra, for allegedly circulating an edited video, and sought the release of the original footage from the House proceedings.