AAP, BJP trade charges as Delhi gasps for breath

As pollution levels in the Capital continued to remain in the "severe" zone for the third straight day on Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) urged neighbouring states to do more in the fight against the smog jacket that has enveloped the National Capital Region (NCR), while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the Arvind Kejriwal government for not doing enough to improve the air quality in the city. 

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Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) reading on Saturday was 415, a little better than the 468 recorded on Friday - the worst since air day since November 12, 2021, when the Capital's AQI was 471. On Thursday, the national bulletin released by the Central Pollution Control Board at 4pm showed the city's AQI was 392 (very poor), but the AQI deteriorated into the severe zone by 5pm.

AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the current air crisis can be attributed to stubble burning, and accused the Haryana government of "doing nothing" for stubble management, and claimed that 20 of the 52 most polluted districts are in the BJP-ruled state.