The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a sharp counterattack against Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, dismissing his recent 15-page letter blaming the previous Arvind Kejriwal government for the capital's severe air pollution as a political stunt. The party accused the LG of resorting to "letter nautanki" (drama) to stay relevant in the media while failing to question the current BJP-led government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
A Political Clash Over Pollution Accountability
AAP spokesperson Ghanendra Bhardwaj led the offensive, stating that while Delhi continues to choke under hazardous air quality, the LG has chosen to write letters to the former chief minister instead of holding the present administration accountable. The party demanded to know when Saxena would question the Rekha Gupta-led government about the concrete steps taken in the last 10 months to combat the pollution crisis.
Bhardwaj framed the issue as a constitutional failure, alleging that from PM Modi to CM Rekha Gupta and LG Saxena, all BJP politicians are enemies of the environment. He emphasized that the entire Delhi government now stands in the dock, facing public scrutiny for its inaction.
Allegations of Environmental Harm and Neglect of Duty
The AAP's rebuttal contained serious allegations against the Lieutenant Governor himself. The party claimed that LG VK Saxena is "the enemy of the environment," having illegally ordered the felling of 1,648 trees in an eco-friendly zone near Chhatarpur. This, the party argued, makes him the biggest adversary of pollution control efforts in the city.
Further intensifying the attack, AAP claimed that while Delhi suffered, the LG chose leisure in Gujarat, appearing to have lost sight of his basic constitutional responsibilities. The party painted a picture of a "camera-obsessed LG" who, ignored by his own BJP government at the centre, is now writing letters merely for media attention.
History of Conflict and Current Political Blame Game
This exchange is the latest episode in a long-running feud. When AAP was in power, its government regularly sparred with Lieutenant Governor Saxena, who was appointed in 2022 by the BJP-led central government. Their differences spanned a wide range of issues from pollution and infrastructure to civic matters and government appointments.
Bhardwaj recalled that as long as Arvind Kejriwal was Chief Minister, the LG's primary role, according to AAP, was to obstruct government work daily, criticise every initiative, and point out alleged shortcomings. AAP leader Anurag Dhanda accused the current BJP government of failing to tackle the pollution crisis and diverting attention through a political blame game.
In response, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva stated that people are shocked by Kejriwal's silence following the LG's detailed letter, calling the allegations within it serious. The war of words underscores the deep political divisions shaping Delhi's governance and its battle against perennial environmental challenges.
