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Who Will Save Delhi?: Citizens' Outrage Over Toxic Gas Chamber And Lack Of Action

As governments point fingers at each other, the people of Delhi gasp for air as the national capital becomes the most polluted city in the world. Who will save Delhi?

Delhi Air Pollution Edited by
Who Will Save Delhi?: Citizens' Outrage Over Toxic Gas Chamber And Lack Of Action

Who Will Save Delhi?: Citizens' Outrage Over Toxic Gas Chamber And Lack Of Action

The national capital of India is equivalent to a gas chamber. Thick layers of smog—a toxic combination of fog and smoke—shrouded the skies of Delhi with barely anything visible around. Surpassing Pakistan’s Lahore, New Delhi became the most polluted city in the world with air quality at “hazardous” levels.

With no respite from the toxic air, the public is angry over the lack of actions and accountability by the authorities. One central figure under fire is the Environment Minister of India, Bhupender Yadav.

Also Read | Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates; Schools Go Online, Trains Delayed

A quick look at his feed on social media platform X shows birthday tweets, retweets of PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah promoting the movie The Sabarmati Report, and election campaigns in the span of the last few days when Delhi’s situation got worse with every day.

Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 494 on Monday. There is not a single post regarding Delhi’s pollution crisis by the Alwar MP.

A netizen said, “Does anyone know who is India’s Environment Minister? Because I don’t think he/she/it knows if he/she/it is!”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray asked, “Have you heard from the Union Environment Minister about the pollution in the states? No. Because he has been given the responsibility of political pollution by his party. Shame.”

When the situation is dire, comedy helps. X user Sagar joked, “Smoking in Bengaluru is healthier than doing Yoga in Delhi.”

Also Read | GRAP-4 Anti-Pollution Restrictions To Stay Until Further Order: Supreme Court Pulls Up Delhi

Taking a dig at the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the organisation responsible for resolving issues related to the air quality in NCR and areas around it, author Anurag Minus Verma said, “Whenever you feel useless in life just remember there is something called commission of air quality management in Delhi.”

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In another post, sharing a photo of the AQI level at 95 at a cremation ground in Delhi, he said, “Proven: Only dead can relax in Delhi.”

Another social media user shared a meme featuring PM Modi, “AI ke baad ab AQI ke full forms bhi banana padenge (After AI, I will have to make full forms for AQI as well).”

Writer Devaiah Bopanna jokingly remarked, “With this kinda suicidal air quality, how are apartments in Gurgaon selling for more than hundred rupees?”

“We are being ruled by criminals who are killing us slowly in a massive gas chamber,” observed former minister of finance and external affairs Yashwant Singh.

Also Read | Delhi University Goes For Online Classes Till Nov 23 Amid Severe Air Pollution

Sharing a clip of Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, North East Delhi and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari attending a screening of The Sabarmati Report with actor Vikrant Massey in Delhi, a social media user highlighted, “Deadly Pollution in Delhi. Delhi MP watching movie. Severe Pollution in North India. Health Minister is enjoying movie. Elect Clowns, Expect Circus.”

Summarising the current situation in India, a netizen aptly pointed out, “kids got burnt alive and the cm is doing road shows. the capital is a gas chamber and the cm is doing politics. a whole state is burning and the pm is celebrating his third term. unemployment is at its peak, and the fm is raising taxes. hello world, india has arrived. welcome us.”

Topics
air pollution air quality index (AQI) AQI Delhi Air Pollution Delhi air quality delhi news New Delhi air pollution

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