Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Delhi government on Saturday, holding it responsible for the capital's worsening air pollution crisis that he described as endangering citizens' lives through political blame games rather than concrete action.
Delhi's Toxic Air: A Case of 'Slow Poison'
Addressing journalists at the Congress headquarters, Dikshit painted a grim picture of Delhi's environmental situation. He characterized the city's toxic air as 'slow poison' that reduces residents' life expectancy by six to seven years. The Congress leader didn't mince words when describing the severity of the situation, calling it 'nothing less than murder' as citizens continue to suffer while political parties trade accusations.
Dikshit highlighted the ongoing blame game between the BJP in Delhi and the AAP government in Punjab over stubble burning. He pointed out the irony in political positions shifting with power. "When the AAP was not in power in Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal used to blame Punjab and when the AAP came to power in Punjab, he started blaming Uttar Pradesh and Haryana," Dikshit recalled during the press conference.
The Real Causes Behind Delhi's Pollution
Contrary to popular narrative, the Congress leader asserted that stubble burning and Diwali firecrackers contribute only marginally to winter pollution. He emphasized that the root causes lie in government failures that persist throughout the year, particularly in addressing the decline of public transportation infrastructure.
Dikshit provided compelling data to support his argument about public transport deterioration. Delhi Transport Corporation's daily ridership has dramatically dropped from approximately 40 lakh in 2013-14 to nearly 30 lakh today, despite Delhi's population showing significant growth during the same period. He also noted that metro expansion projects have largely stalled, exacerbating the transportation crisis.
Call for United Action Against Pollution
Labeling pollution as a 'national problem' requiring immediate attention, Dikshit urged the Centre, Delhi government, and Lieutenant Governor to initiate a mass movement. He stressed the urgent need to strengthen public transport and infrastructure to effectively curb rising vehicular emissions that contribute significantly to Delhi's poor air quality.
The Congress leader's statements come at a time when Delhi residents are grappling with severe air quality issues that have become an annual nightmare. His press conference underscored the growing frustration among citizens and opposition parties about the lack of substantial, year-round measures to combat what has become one of Delhi's most pressing public health challenges.
