BJP, Congress defaming AAP-led Delhi Government, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Cabinet Minister and senior AAP leader Gopal Rai on Thursday will lead a protest in Delhi against the government of Punjab and Haryana for inaction against increasing cases of stubble burning which massively contributes to causing pollution in Delhi. While briefing the reporters about the protest, Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the Congress and BJP government of Punjab and Haryana have joined hands to make Delhi a 'Gas chamber' and to oppose this, we will hit the streets tomorrow to protest against these two governments at 3 PM.

"Before and during Diwali, Arvind Kejriwal government took many steps to curb pollution in Delhi but even after taking numerous steps, air quality in Delhi has worsened as a thick blanket of smog covers Delhi which is causing breathing problems to people of Delhi. At one side Delhiites are fighting a fight against pollution and on the other side, Punjab and Haryana Governments of Congress and BJP respectively are silent on stubble burning in their states. Both the State Governments have accepted that the cases of stubble burning have increased", he said further.

READ | AAP to hold protest against stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana

BJP, Congress defaming AAP-led Delhi Government

Rai further lashed out at the opposition stating that both BJP and Congress have joined hands in order to defame the Kejriwal-led AAP government. He said, "Both BJP and Congress are working hands in glove and playing with the lives of people of Delhi to defame Kejriwal Govt. Delhi Govt has taken many initiatives to curb pollution but be it central Govt or state governments of Punjab and Haryana, all governments are putting all efforts to impose pollution on the people of Delhi and to oppose this, Aam Aadmi Party has decided to take this fight on the streets of Delhi. We will do a massive protest outside Punjab Bhawan and Haryana Bhawan tomorrow at 3 PM. We demand the immediate intervention of the central government in this."

READ | Pollution more concerning than Cricket match: Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir

Population explosion root cause of pollution

While speaking to Republic, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyaya said that the Kejriwal government didn't do anything in the last five years and now they are raising this issue just ahead of assembly elections in Delhi. He further said that in Delhi "Population explosion is the root cause of pollution".

"Delhi Govt has not taken even a single step to control increasing population in Delhi, other state governments like Assam and Uttrakhand are taking steps to control population but Delhi Govt is not keen at all moreover AAP Govt is giving shelter to Bangladeshis and issuing them voter ID cards that's why they opposed NRC also in Delhi. Govt must implement NRC in Delhi and make a policy like Assam Govt against people having more than two kids. AAP Govt is announcing freebies to attract more people in Delhi so that their vote bank increases" said Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyaya.

READ | At 35%, stubble burning share in Delhi's pollution max so far: SAFAR

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