New Delhi’s air pollution crisis has ignited fresh political fireworks, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launching a scathing attack on the government. AAP alleges a deliberate manipulation of Air Quality Index (AQI) data to paint a falsely rosy picture of the city’s air quality.
Party leaders claim the authorities have strategically placed new AQI monitoring stations in lush, low-traffic green zones, far from the industrial hubs and bustling roads where pollution truly ravages public health. This move, they argue, allows officials to showcase artificially low readings without addressing the root causes of Delhi’s toxic air.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj led the charge, questioning the government’s intentions. ‘The aim isn’t to combat pollution effectively but to dupe the public with doctored data,’ he declared. Bharadwaj highlighted how stations in verdant areas like Central Ridge, JNU campus, and Yamuna riverbanks near Akshardham naturally record lower pollution levels, creating a misleading narrative of improvement.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Bharadwaj branded this as the government’s ‘latest scam.’ He slammed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its silence, pointing out that most members are IAS officers appointed by the central government, rendering it biased. ‘It’s an IAS-run system prioritizing bureaucracy over people’s health,’ he quipped.
AAP recalled a similar controversy in April, when stations were installed in pristine, low-pollution spots devoid of industry or heavy traffic. Bharadwaj then had warned that such placements deceive Delhiites. The party now demands stations be relocated to high-pollution zones—industrial areas, congested streets, and densely populated neighborhoods—to reflect true AQI and enable real solutions.
As winter smog blankets the capital once more, this accusation underscores the urgent need for transparent data and bold action. Delhi’s residents deserve accurate information to hold leaders accountable and breathe cleaner air.