The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has pointed fingers at the Haryana government, holding it responsible as the “biggest culprit” behind the pollution crisis in Delhi. This accusation comes in the wake of a recent observation by the Supreme Court, which expressed concerns about the issue and stressed the need to avoid making it a “political battle.” The Supreme Court, reacting to the escalating pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, directed the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to immediately cease crop residue burning to prevent further pollution-related health risks to the public.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Haryana government regarding these allegations. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar acknowledged the shared responsibility in addressing air pollution but emphasized the importance of refraining from politicizing the matter. He noted that polluted air affects both Haryana and Delhi, with Punjab also experiencing numerous cases of crop-residue burning.
However, AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak expressed frustration that Union Environment Minister is busy with election campaigning while Delhi grapples with a severe pollution crisis. He thanked the Supreme Court for its decision and highlighted that only Delhi and Punjab had submitted affidavits, despite the involvement of five states, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, in this critical issue. Pathak accused the BJP of attempting to shift the blame for the pollution problem to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab. He suggested that there may be an agenda to tarnish Kejriwal’s image, noting that the AAP is in power in both Delhi and Punjab. The ongoing pollution crisis in Delhi and the broader NCR region, exacerbated by the burning of paddy straw in neighboring states, has drawn attention from the highest judicial authority in India and ignited political debates about responsibility and accountability.
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