'What's The Point of Apologising?’: Priyanka Gandhi Takes Dig At Delhi Minister Sirsa Over Pollution Crisis

New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took a swipe at Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa over his apology for the worsening air quality in the national capital, questioning its purpose and accused the Central government of failing to initiate meaningful discussion in Parliament on the issue.

Speaking to reporters, the Congress MP said, “What is the point of apologising?... We have said that everyone should collectively take solid decisions, but not even a discussion is happening here (in the Parliament).” Notably, opposition leaders have been demanding a parliamentary discussion to develop a systematic plan to address the issue of rising air pollution in parts of the country.

Earlier today, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the toxic air in the national capital and said it is "impossible" for any elected government to reduce AQI (air quality index) in just 9-10 months. Delhi-NCR is grappling with deteriorating air quality, with severe smog and AQI hovering between poor and severe, raising serious health concerns for the region's residents.

Addressing a press conference, Minister Sirsa accused the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of being responsible for Delhi's pollution and said that the current BJP government is working to fix it.

"It is impossible for any elected government to reduce AQI in 9-10 months. I apologise for the pollution in Delhi. We are doing better work than the dishonest AAP government, and we have reduced AQI each day. This disease of pollution is given to us by the Aam Aadmi Party, and we are working to fix it," Sirsa said during the press conference.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index in the national capital stood at 354 at 4 pm on Tuesday, categorised as ‘very poor.’ In the morning at 8 am, the city's overall AQI was 378, placing it in the 'very poor' category, as per the CPCB.

The air quality showed a marginal improvement compared to Monday, when the AQI had touched 427 at around 4 pm, falling in the 'severe' category.

Despite the slight dip, pollution levels remained dangerously high across large parts of the national capital and a dense blanket of toxic smog enveloped the city, severely reducing visibility and causing discomfort to residents on Tuesday morning.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already invoked all measures under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR in view of the rising air pollution. 

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