Kejriwal Criticises Rekha Gupta’s Vipassana Comment Amid Delhi Pollution Crisis

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal sharply criticised Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for mocking Vipassana meditation, calling it unbecoming of her position. In a post on X on December 15, 2025, Kejriwal addressed Gupta's remarks, which targeted his past practices amid discussions on air pollution management. He emphasised that while political differences exist, ridiculing a sacred technique taught by Lord Buddha undermines the dignity of the chief minister's office.

Gupta's comments stemmed from a speech at a recent event, where she vowed to address Delhi's pollution crisis without abandoning the city. She contrasted her approach with unnamed predecessors who, she implied, fled to practise Vipassana every six months, leaving residents to suffer. Accompanying a video clip of her address, Gupta highlighted ongoing short- and long-term measures to combat pollution, underscoring her commitment with the slogan "My Delhi, my responsibility."

Kejriwal urged Gupta to experience Vipassana herself, describing it as a source of profound peace and a blessing rather than an escape. He defended the practice as spiritually enriching, not a dereliction of duty, amid escalating political tensions between AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. This exchange highlights the deepening rift over governance issues in the capital.

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AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj amplified the criticism, pointing to Delhi's severe air quality crisis as evidence of mismanagement under Gupta's administration. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a seasonal high of 461 on December 15, Bharadwaj noted widespread health warnings and visible smog even indoors. He attributed the pollution spike to factors beyond stubble burning, which had ceased nationwide, and questioned public confidence in the current leadership.

Bharadwaj accused Gupta of oversimplifying solutions, such as equating AQI to temperature readings or relying solely on water sprinkling. He called for expert intervention and suggested the chief minister step back temporarily for a course correction amid claims that residents feel abandoned without clear accountability.

In response, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor defended the government, attributing the recent pollution surge to a Western Disturbance halting air movement—a recurring December phenomenon since 2009. He dismissed AAP's blame as regrettable, given their decade-long rule, and asserted that no local factors were solely responsible, shifting focus to natural weather patterns affecting North India.

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