Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has bly criticized Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s remark about ‘AQI temperature’. Kejriwal questioned when this new science came into being.
New Delhi: Political debate regarding air pollution in the national capital, Delhi, has once again intensified. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s recent statement has sparked controversy amidst the heat and pollution. The CM stated that “AQI (Air Quality Index) is like temperature” and spraying water in hotspot areas is a solution to reduce pollution. Former Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has launched a scathing attack on this statement.
Allegation of Concealing Data
Kejriwal wrote on social media platform X:
'Firstly, the Chief Minister has admitted that wherever AQI monitors are installed, water is being sprayed so that the real level of pollution does not reach the people of Delhi. In other words, a game is being played to show the air as clean by hiding the data. Secondly, when did this new science come into being that AQI has now become like temperature?'
Arvind Kejriwal has squarely accused the Delhi government of manipulating AQI monitoring by spraying water. He states that such measures do not allow the real air quality data to reach the public. Kejriwal further stated that it is the government’s responsibility to show the people the correct air quality data. It is unfortunate and dangerous to try and make the air appear clean by hiding it.
What did CM Rekha Gupta say?
Let it be known that during a program held on Saturday, in response to questions from the opposition, Delhi CM said that “hotspots are areas where the level of pollution is highest. The solution to this is to spray there and improve the soil. Using a monitor does not reduce the AQI. AQI is like temperature and can be measured with any instrument.”
CM’s statement has created a stir on social media. Many videos are going viral, in which her statement and the hotspot strategy are being discussed.
Political Stir
Following the CM’s statement, political unrest has intensified in Delhi. Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has not only criticized it from a scientific perspective but also described it as a dangerous step for the health of the public. According to him, it is the primary responsibility of the government to accurately measure air quality and present the real data to the public.
Experts believe that the level of air pollution in Delhi is constantly increasing and presenting AQI data as temperature can be confusing for the public.
