New Delhi: The festive season in Delhi, which began with Diwali on October 22 and ended with Chhath Puja on October 27, turned into a political battlefield as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traded charges over pollution data and river cleanup efforts.
The AAP first accused multiple government agencies of manipulating Delhi’s air quality data on Diwali night. Days later, it claimed that the BJP had created a "fake" Yamuna ghat with filtered water for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Chhath Puja while ordinary devotees were left to stand in the polluted river.
AAP Accuses Agencies of Tampering with Pollution Data on Diwali
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that four government agencies worked together to manipulate the capital’s air quality data to hide the severity of pollution after Diwali fireworks.
"They are corrupt and criminals. The Nehru Nagar monitoring station recorded an AQI of 1763 before it was suddenly shut down. They are playing with people’s health," Bharadwaj told ANI, calling the alleged act “criminal” and politically motivated.
He claimed the agencies wanted to protect the BJP government from criticism over rising pollution levels.
Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa dismissed the allegations, saying the AAP was "trying to blame Diwali, Hindus and Sanatanis" for Delhi’s smog to appease a particular vote bank.
"It’s not the crackers. The AAP is focused on proving that Diwali causes pollution because they want to ban Hindu festivals. According to CPCB data, AQI rose only slightly from 345 before Diwali to 356 after, which is far lower than in previous years," Sirsa said.
Sirsa added that even when firecrackers were banned, pollution levels rose due to other causes like stubble burning and vehicle emissions.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 351 the following Tuesday, falling under the "very poor" category.
‘Fake Yamuna Ghat’ Row Erupts on Chhath Puja
Five days later, as Delhi prepared for Chhath Puja, the AAP alleged that the BJP had constructed an "artificial" Yamuna ghat with filtered water for the Prime Minister’s symbolic participation.
"In a desperate attempt to win over Purvanchali voters, the BJP has built a fake Yamuna ghat filled with filtered water for PM Modi while devotees stand in toxic water," Bharadwaj claimed at a press conference.
He said the filtered water was drawn from the Wazirabad water treatment plant pipeline, which normally supplies the city’s drinking water. Bharadwaj also accused BJP leaders of spraying chemicals to reduce the Yamuna’s foam for photo opportunities.
"The BJP is fooling devotees and hiding the truth that the Yamuna remains dangerously toxic," he said.
BJP Calls Allegations 'A Shameful Display of Political Frustration'
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva rejected AAP’s charges and said Bharadwaj’s video from Vasudev Ghat showed "political frustration".
"People saw AAP leaders objecting to the cleaning of Vasudev Ghat and to the availability of clean water there. It is the first time an opposition party has objected to cleaning efforts," Sachdeva said.
He added that from 2018 to 2024, the Kejriwal government had banned Chhath Puja on the Yamuna banks. "Now that our government has completed basic cleaning of the Yamuna and made natural ghats available within eight months, they are spreading lies," he said.
Delhi’s Pollution Politics Intensify
While Delhiites struggled with poor air quality and polluted water during the festive season, political leaders continued to trade accusations instead of solutions.
From allegations of "fake pollution data" to a "fake Yamuna ghat", both AAP and BJP have turned Delhi’s environmental crisis into a political flashpoint.
Experts say that until both parties focus on long-term measures such as waste management, stubble burning control and clean energy transition, Delhi’s air and water will remain caught between faith, festivals and politics.