NEW DELHI: Delhi Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) president Saurabh Bhardwaj on Wednesday alleged that 4 authorities companies “labored collectively” to control the nationwide capital’s air high quality information on the night time of Diwaliterming it a “legal act” following studies that an Air High quality Index (AQI) studying of 1763 was recorded on the Nehru Nagar monitoring station earlier than it was shut down.Chatting with ANI, Bhardwaj mentioned, “They’re corrupt and criminals, what they’ve achieved is a legal act… 4 totally different authorities companies labored collectively to gather Delhi’s air pollution information on the night time of Diwali… At present’s information states that Nehru Nagar station recorded an AQI of 1763, after which it was shut down. They’re enjoying with folks’s well being…”The remarks from AAP got here shortly after Delhi setting minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa offered information claiming that the competition of Diwali had solely a minimal affect on town’s general air pollution ranges. Sirsa alleged that the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) is trying to carry “Diwali, Hindus, and Sanatanis” answerable for Delhi’s air air pollution, calling it a “sin” to hyperlink the competition with the capital’s worsening air. high quality.In an interview with ANI, Sirsa lashed out at AAP for what he described as a politically motivated try to ban Hindu non secular practices, saying, “It is not the crackers..The Aam Aadmi Social gathering is placing All its efforts into proving that the air pollution in Delhi is because of Diwali. They’re targeted on this as a result of they’ve a selected vote financial institution to please. They’re working arduous to ban Diwali by saying that lighting lamps and bursting firecrackers creates smoke., To counter AAP’s narrative, Sirsa supplied comparative information from previous years to exhibit that Diwali’s affect on air pollution ranges is minimal. “In line with information from the DPCC and CPCB, the Air High quality Index (AQI) stood at 345 on the night time earlier than Diwali, which is decrease than in earlier years. In 2020, it was recorded at 414, in 2021 at 382, and this yr, throughout our time, it was 345. After the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali, the AQI rose barely to 356, a rise of simply 11 factors,” he defined.The minister additional highlighted that even in years when firecrackers have been banned, AQI ranges elevated considerably. “Final yr, regardless of a ban on firecrackers, the AQI went up from 328 on the eve of Diwali to 360 the next morning, an increase of 32 factors. The yr earlier than, in 2023, it elevated from 218 to 301, marking an 83-point bounce.”Sirsa insisted that it’s deceptive to position the blame solely on Diwali. “It could, due to this fact, be deceptive in charge Diwali firecrackers alone for the rise in air pollution ranges. There could have been some affect, however what the Aam Aadmi Social gathering is trying to counsel that Diwali, Hindus, and Sanatanis are answerable for Delhi’s air pollution is a sin,” he mentioned.Sirsa accused the AAP of scapegoating Diwali for the capital’s rising air pollution ranges, alleging that the opposition’s narrative is a ploy to appease a “explicit vote financial institution” by pushing for a ban on the competition’s traditions, together with diyas and crackers.“Aam Aadmi Social gathering is totally targeted on proving that the air pollution right here in Delhi is because of Diwali. It is because they’ve a selected vote financial institution, whom they need to appease, and that is why they’re attempting arduous to show. that Diwali must be banned on account of smoke from diyas and crackers, on account of which air pollution occurs,” Sirsa instructed in an interview.The minister’s sharp retort comes amid a renewed blame sport in Delhi, the place the Air High quality Index (AQI) dipped barely to 345 on the eve of Diwali however rose to 356 after the firecrackers, sparking accusations from AAP leaders that the competition exacerbates winter smog. Sirsa labeled the opposition’s fixation as “dishonest”, insisting firecrackers play a minor position in comparison with systemic points like stubble burning in neighboring states.“It is dishonest to solely blame firecrackers for air pollution. Sure, they might have had some impact, however the opposition is concentrated on ‘Diwali, Hindus, and Sanatanis are answerable for air pollution…’ I do really feel they’re attempting to (communalize the problem). In the event that they have been truthful, they might have raised this yesterday as effectively; the AQI was 345 then, too, however they did not tweet about it. They’re additionally claiming the info is manipulated, however additionally they say we manipulate EVMs too,” he remarked, drawing parallels to AAP’s broader allegations of electoral fraud.The Delhi environmental minister additional lambasted AAP’s “lies”, invoking a dramatic admission of defeat within the face of their propaganda machine.“In entrance of Kejriwal and his crew’s lies, we fold our palms. We do not even declare to match them. We admit, we’re nothing in entrance of their lies. Huge names have surrendered them earlier than. Their lies are unmatched,” Sirsa conceded with sarcasm, earlier than pivoting to transparency. “However the information is public, from CPCB, DPCC… Each minute’s information is on the market on-line… However they need to management it… They thought AQI would shoot up, and they might create a ruckus in opposition to us. Within the Within the morning, they tried to discredit Diwali, and within the night, they claimed that the info was faux. If the info is faux, then how is air pollution even actual?” he mentioned. In line with the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB), Delhi’s general Air High quality Index (AQI) stood at 351 as of 4 pm on Tuesday, submit Diwali celebrations.The air pollution fee at Lodhi Highway was 343; in the meantime, in Sirifort, it was 274. The AQI in Higher Noida and Ghaziabad was 282 and 324, respectively.An AQI between zero and 50 is taken into account ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘passable’, 101 and 200 ‘reasonable’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘extreme’.