New Delhi, November 10, 2025: Delhi’s air quality worsened on Monday as citizens grappled with smog and high levels of pollution, even as official air quality readings were unavailable on the government’s monitoring app for several hours. In the midst of growing public concern, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa held the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responsible for the city’s deteriorating air quality, questioning whether recent protests over pollution were genuinely driven by citizens or politically motivated.

AQI Data Missing from Official Platforms

Delhi’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stopped issuing Air Quality Index (AQI) readings on its app, Sameer, and the official website after 12:15 pm on Monday. At that time, the AQI had reached 345, categorized as “very poor.” Officials cited a technical glitch for the interruption and assured that readings would likely be restored, with the last update available at around 6 pm.

The unavailability of real-time AQI data drew criticism from opposition leaders and activists, who argued that citizens were being denied crucial information about a public health hazard. AQI monitors are key to alerting residents, particularly children, elderly, and those with respiratory ailments, about hazardous pollution levels.

Delhi Minister’s Response

Speaking to reporters, Sirsa defended the BJP government’s efforts to address pollution in the city since it assumed office in February 2025. He stated:

“Everyone, absolutely, has the right to protest. Through protests, the government becomes more conscious of its duties.”

Regarding protesters who were detained from India Gate, Sirsa clarified:

“They were just told that there are Supreme Court guidelines against protesting at India Gate, so they could hold the protest at Jantar Mantar instead. That was the only point.”

However, he quickly shifted the focus to AAP, saying:

“And the second point I want to make is about the Aam Aadmi Party that is protesting. They are the ones who left behind this filth accumulated over 10 years. This is what’s called ‘ulta chor kotwal ko dante’ (‘thief scolding the police’). That’s what has happened.”

When questioned about the concerns raised by the protesters, Sirsa dismissed claims of a citizen-led demonstration:

“Listen, listen, no, forget what the public is saying. People belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party are saying it! Who is saying it’s a ‘public protest’? (Delhi AAP chief) Saurabh Bhardwaj ji is saying it’s a public protest; AAP leaders are saying it’s a public protest. The public itself is not saying it’s a public protest.”

Measures Taken by the BJP Government

Sirsa elaborated on initiatives undertaken by the new Delhi government to tackle pollution:

• Garbage removal: Efforts to eliminate “garbage hills” in the city.
• Anti-smog devices: Installation of devices on high-rise buildings to reduce particulate matter.
• Dust mitigation: Steps to minimize dust pollution within the city.
• Electric buses: Increasing the number of electric buses to reduce vehicular emissions.

He emphasized that pollution is a chronic problem inherited over a decade:

“Last year the AQI was 500, touched 1,000. This is a disease we inherited. But since the government led by (CM) Rekha Gupta ji came into power, we are succeeding in cleaning up every month. An ailment of over 10 years cannot be healed in just six or seven months. We are ensuring that your children do not suffer from this illness in the coming years, which you inherited over the last 10 years.”

Opposition’s Perspective

AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, acknowledged the long-standing nature of Delhi’s pollution crisis but criticized the current government for tampering with data:

“The anger among people stems from the government’s deception and tampering with data. People are troubled and stunned to see that major institutions are involved in this tampering, and that the fraud is happening openly. The government’s intention is not to reduce pollution but to reduce its figures.”

Bharadwaj alleged that AQI monitoring stations were either shut down or manipulated—sometimes with water sprays near monitors—to artificially suppress pollution readings during peak smog days.

Public Concerns

The issue of malfunctioning or missing AQI data has also been brought before the Supreme Court, which recently asked the Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to submit a detailed report. The CAQM is responsible for coordinating anti-pollution measures across Delhi and the National Capital Region, including cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.

Residents, while acknowledging the political debate, stressed that the problem transcends party lines. A local, Neha, said:

“We have only one issue, and that’s clean air. This problem has been going on for years, but no action is being taken. This is a violation of Article 21, our right to life. This isn’t a political matter. It’s about clean air.”

Congress leaders also criticized both the Delhi government and police for preventing citizens from protesting, framing the issue as a fundamental public health and constitutional concern rather than a political one.

Context of Delhi’s Pollution Crisis

Delhi frequently records extremely high AQI levels during winter, owing to factors such as:

• Vehicular emissions from millions of vehicles.
• Industrial pollution in the NCR.
• Seasonal burning of crop residue in neighboring states.
• Construction dust and urban debris.

Experts have warned that chronic exposure to such pollution leads to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues, particularly affecting children and elderly residents.

Conclusion

As Delhi battles its persistent smog crisis, the dispute between the BJP and AAP over accountability has intensified, compounded by missing real-time pollution data on official platforms. Citizens continue to demand transparency, effective measures to combat pollution, and accessible information to safeguard public health. While political parties exchange blame, experts and activists stress that urgent action and community awareness are essential to tackle Delhi’s long-standing air quality crisis.