Delhi BJP President Criticizes AAP Government Over Air Pollution and Yamuna Foam

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has condemned former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the ruling AAP government for the rising air pollution in the city.

Delhi’s air quality has been in the ‘very poor’ category for the past few days, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching around 332 on Thursday morning, causing significant discomfort for residents. An Air Quality Early Warning System has indicated that this poor air quality is likely to persist until Saturday.

In a bold protest, Sachdeva took a dip in the Yamuna River, expressing his discontent with the AAP government over its unfulfilled promise to clean the river.

Speaking to IANS, Sachdeva stated, “We are still waiting for the Chief Minister and those who pull the strings behind the scenes, currently out on bail, to explain how the Rs 8,500 crore allocated by the Central Government for cleaning the Yamuna has been utilized. They need to clarify what steps have been taken to clean the river.”

His comments come amid worsening air quality and the troubling presence of toxic foam accumulating in various parts of the Yamuna, especially in the Kalindi Kunj area.

Sachdeva also raised concerns about the upcoming Chhath festival, questioning how devotees can perform rituals in such polluted water. “How can my mothers and sisters worship Lord Suryadev in a river that is unfit to even touch?” he asked.

In response to AAP’s claims of progress in tackling pollution, Sachdeva challenged the Delhi Chief Minister to present a report card on a decade of governance. “What have you achieved apart from corruption and looting? Under the NCPA, the central government allocated Rs 37 crore, yet only ₹10 crore was utilized. If the remaining funds had been used effectively, Delhi’s air quality could have significantly improved,” he asserted.

He further claimed that the situation would only change with a BJP government in Delhi.

Earlier, on October 20, Delhi CM Atishi attributed the growing air and water pollution in the national capital to BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, absolving AAP-ruled Punjab of responsibility. She cited paddy stubble burning, diesel buses, and brick kilns in BJP-ruled Haryana as key contributors to Delhi’s poor air quality.