Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched a sharp counterattack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at the Centre and in Delhi, holding them responsible for the capital's severe air pollution crisis. Speaking at a press conference in Punjab alongside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on December 18, 2025, Kejriwal dismissed accusations from Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa that AAP was deliberately burning waste to inflate pollution levels. He described the current smog as Delhi's "own doing," pointing out that Punjab's AQI remained moderate at 70-100 despite no stubble burning, contrasting sharply with Delhi's levels hovering in the 'very poor' to 'severe' category. Kejriwal claimed the city had never witnessed such prolonged high pollution during his tenure as Chief Minister. The exchange escalated a day after Sirsa's public plea to Kejriwal, made "with folded hands," to refrain from "dirty politics" allegedly aimed at spiking AQI readings.

Kejriwal accused the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi administration of delaying GRAP Stage IV restrictions and focusing on manipulating data rather than mitigation. He alleged authorities sprinkled water near monitoring stations to artificially lower readings, suggesting the true AQI could exceed 700-800 despite official figures around 373 on Thursday afternoon per CPCB data. Construction activity continued unchecked initially, he claimed, rendering GRAP-4 enforcement "on paper only." The Commission for Air Quality Management activated the strictest measures only after prolonged 'severe' readings earlier in the month. Kejriwal emphasized internal sources like vehicular emissions and local dust as primary culprits now that external factors such as Punjab stubble burning had subsided.

The former Delhi Chief Minister also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for silence on the issue, questioning how pollution could improve without central leadership. In a social media jibe earlier, Kejriwal noted Modi's Oman visit and Rahul Gandhi's Germany trip while the national capital remained a "gas chamber." His remarks framed the crisis as governance failure under BJP rule.

Also Read: CJI Urges Scientific Solutions, Says Stubble Burning Shouldn’t Be Political in Delhi Pollution Case

Sirsa's Wednesday accusation centered on reports of an AAP councillor allegedly igniting waste in Trilokpuri ward to fabricate higher pollution, which was then recorded on video. The minister expressed regret over what he called deliberate sabotage indifferent to public health.

This war of words highlights deepening political fault lines over Delhi's recurring winter smog, with opposition parties leveraging the issue ahead of elections. Measures under GRAP-4, including work-from-home mandates and vehicle restrictions, remain in force amid persistent hazardous air.

As blame shifts between parties, residents continue facing health risks from sustained poor air quality, prompting calls for collaborative rather than confrontational approaches. Monitoring data shows fluctuating but elevated AQI, underscoring urgency for effective implementation beyond rhetoric. The controversy reflects broader challenges in coordinated pollution control across NCR jurisdictions. Stakeholders await substantive actions to alleviate the ongoing crisis affecting millions.

Also Read: Delhi’s AQI Hits 384; Nineteen Monitoring Stations Show ‘Severe’ Pollution Levels