As Delhi’s air quality continues to worsen, political tensions have flared between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both sides trading barbs over accountability for the national capital’s recurring pollution crisis. On Monday, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi voiced strong criticism of what he described as governmental negligence, saying the public wanted “clean air, not excuses.” His remarks prompted an immediate counterattack from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress and its former ally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), of having created Delhi’s pollution problem through years of mismanagement.

The controversy comes amid a sharp rise in pollution levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi remaining in the “very poor” category for the fourth consecutive day. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several parts of the city registered AQI readings close to the “severe” threshold.

Rahul Gandhi’s Appeal for Action

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality and blamed the BJP governments at both the Centre and in Delhi for failing to take adequate measures. “Year after year, Delhi’s air is becoming increasingly poisonous, but BJP governments just keep changing their excuses. Now, both at the Centre and in Delhi, it’s their own government in power. No excuses now — the public wants clean air,” Gandhi wrote.

Alongside his post, Gandhi shared an eight-minute video filmed early in the morning near India Gate, where he is seen conversing with an environmental expert about the capital’s alarming pollution levels. Wearing a mask, Gandhi noted that he had been experiencing breathing difficulties and eye irritation due to the smog blanketing the city. “I have been having breathing issues, and my eyes are burning. The last week has been terrible,” he said in the video.

During the discussion, Gandhi also expressed concern for his mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, stating that he was considering relocating her out of Delhi due to health risks posed by prolonged exposure to toxic air. “The pollution levels are so high that it’s affecting everyone — from children to the elderly. It’s not just a Delhi issue; it’s a national emergency,” he said, calling for coordinated efforts between the Centre, the Delhi government, and neighbouring states to address the problem at its root.

Gandhi’s remarks reflected growing frustration among Delhi residents, who have faced years of severe air pollution every winter due to a combination of vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, and seasonal stubble burning in nearby states.

BJP’s Sharp Response

The BJP quickly responded to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism, dismissing his comments as political posturing and accusing the Congress of hypocrisy. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, representing the BJP-led Rekha Gupta government in the National Capital Territory, released a video statement accusing Gandhi of attempting to defame both the people of Delhi and its current administration.

“I would like to remind Rahul Gandhi that Delhi’s air quality first deteriorated under the 15-year Congress rule. It worsened further during AAP’s 10-year tenure. The most polluted days were recorded during the combined 25 years of Congress and AAP rule in Delhi,” Sirsa said.

Defending the BJP government’s record, Sirsa asserted that the “cleanest air days in a decade” had been recorded under the current administration. “It proves that Rahul Gandhi is systematically trying to defame Delhi and its government. Let me tell you, this AQI problem was created by the Congress and its partner AAP,” he added.

Sirsa further cited comparative air quality data to claim improvement under the current BJP-led dispensation. “The AQI is lowest today under the Rekha Gupta government, even though the number of vehicles has increased by 10 per cent and construction activities by 21 per cent in Delhi. Even petrol and diesel vehicles older than the prescribed limit are still on the roads, yet we have managed better air quality than in previous years,” he claimed.

Blame Game Over Air Pollution

The exchange between the two parties marks the latest episode in a long-running political blame game over Delhi’s air pollution, which worsens annually during the post-harvest season. While the Centre and the Delhi government have both introduced measures such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), odd-even traffic schemes, and bans on construction and firecrackers, experts say the enforcement remains inconsistent, and the measures are reactive rather than preventive.

Political analysts noted that Gandhi’s criticism was aimed at highlighting governance failures across both levels of BJP leadership — the Union government, which oversees interstate pollution control and agricultural policy, and the Delhi administration, which is now under BJP control after years of AAP rule. The BJP, in turn, sought to shift focus back to Congress and AAP’s past tenures, arguing that the roots of Delhi’s pollution crisis lie in years of administrative neglect.

Delhi’s AQI Remains in the ‘Very Poor’ Category

As of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, the CPCB recorded AQI levels of 392 at Anand Vihar, one of Delhi’s most polluted monitoring stations. The Burari area, where the Delhi government has recently initiated cloud seeding trials as an experimental pollution control measure, reported an AQI of 393, also in the “very poor” category.

Citywide, the overall AQI was recorded at 309 on Monday afternoon, placing it firmly in the “very poor” zone. This level of pollution poses serious health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Medical professionals have advised residents to minimize outdoor activity, wear N95 masks, and use air purifiers indoors.

According to meteorologists, stagnant weather conditions, low wind speeds, and temperature inversion have trapped pollutants near the surface, exacerbating smog formation. The situation is expected to persist for several more days unless wind speeds increase or rain clears the atmosphere.

Experts Warn of Health Emergency

Environmental experts have warned that Delhi’s persistent air quality crisis represents a public health emergency rather than a seasonal inconvenience. Dr. Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, recently stated that prolonged exposure to such toxic air could have long-term impacts, including reduced lung function, increased risk of stroke, and higher incidence of respiratory infections.

“Every year, we discuss AQI numbers as if they’re just statistics, but what we are really talking about is children developing asthma, elderly people struggling to breathe, and millions exposed to carcinogenic air daily,” Dr. Guleria said.

Public Sentiment and Policy Outlook

Public frustration has been mounting as Delhiites brace for yet another smog-filled winter. Environmental groups have called for long-term structural measures, such as investment in clean public transport, strict vehicular emission norms, and effective waste management systems, rather than short-term emergency actions.

In his video, Rahul Gandhi echoed similar concerns, saying India must treat air pollution with the same urgency it reserves for national crises. “We need action, not politics. The right to breathe clean air is not a luxury; it’s a fundamental right,” he said.

Meanwhile, both the Centre and the Delhi government have reiterated their commitment to tackling the issue, but critics argue that coordination between states remains weak. With AQI levels worsening and public anger rising, the political blame game is unlikely to subside soon — even as Delhi’s residents continue to gasp for breath in one of the world’s most polluted capitals.