Delhi’s air quality has plunged into the ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ categories following Diwali, sparking debate over the primary cause. While many pointed fingers at firecracker emissions, Delhi Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa presented data suggesting a different narrative. He highlighted that in 2020, when firecrackers were permitted, PM 2.5 levels increased by 21 points post-Diwali. In contrast, he claimed a more significant 80-point jump in 2021. For 2024, Sirsa stated that even with a ban on traditional firecrackers, and only green crackers allowed under Supreme Court orders and Delhi government requests, the Air Quality Index (AQI) rose by 32 points, from 328 to 360. He further cited CPCB’s Sameer App data for 2024, showing an AQI of 345 before Diwali and 356 after, an increase of just 11 points when green crackers were in use. “Will you hold Diwali responsible for this? Will you hold the faith of all the Sanatanas and Hindus in Delhi accountable?” he questioned, implying that the focus on Diwali is misplaced and potentially targets a specific community. Sirsa accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of appeasement politics, deliberately creating a controversy around Diwali, Sanatana Dharma, and Hinduism to garner votes from a particular section of society. He criticized the AAP president for blaming the BJP, stating that Diwali is a significant Hindu festival, not a political one. The minister also shifted blame for stubble burning in Punjab, alleging that the AAP government there is coercing farmers into burning crop residue, which then impacts Delhi’s air. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed Delhi’s overall AQI at 359 at 10 am, with areas like Bawana (432), Jahangirpuri (405), Ashok Vihar (408), and Wazirpur (408) falling into the ‘Severe’ category.
