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Stressing that this was not a “Hindu-Muslim issue”, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said Diwali is a festival of lights and, keeping in mind the rising pollution levels, people should instead light diyas
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on October 30. (Image: PTI/Vijay Verma)
In his Diwali message to the people of Delhi, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged them to adhere to the ban on bursting firecrackers. He said this was not a “Hindu-Muslim issue” but a matter of public health.
#WATCH | Delhi: On ban over firecrackers in Delhi, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says “…Even the Supreme Court and High Court say that in view of the pollution, we should not burst crackers, we should light diyas. This is the festival of lights and not firecrackers. It… pic.twitter.com/R7LVunG8OK— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024
Kejriwal said Diwali is a festival of lights and, keeping in mind the rising pollution levels, people should instead light diyas. He said even the Supreme Court and high court has given similar directives.
“…Even the Supreme Court and High Court say that in view of the pollution, we should not burst crackers, we should light diyas. This is the festival of lights and not firecrackers,” he said during a press conference, for which Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi was also present.
He added: “It is not as if we are doing a favour to anybody. Whatever pollution will happen, our children will suffer from it, so there is no Hindu-Muslim in this. Everyone’s life is important…”
DAY AHEAD OF DIWALI, OVERALL AQI ‘POOR’ IN DELHI
A day ahead of Diwali, however, air pollution has considerably increased in Delhi with as many as eight monitoring stations recording ‘very poor’ quality air on Wednesday. The national capital recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 278 at 9 am, up from 268 recorded a day earlier.
The city’s overall AQI remained in the ‘poor’ category — a marginal improvement from Tuesday (October 29) due to favourable wind speed after several days of ‘very poor’ quality air. On October 28 (Monday), Delhi recorded an AQI of 304 and it was 359 on October 27.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 to 300 ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.
The poor air quality in Delhi-NCR, in the days leading up to Diwali, has been a major concern. The thick and toxic smog, which has enveloped the region over the past few days, is likely to get worse when the festival is celebrated on Thursday (October 31).
Every year, pollution levels are off the charts for the next few days after the use of firecrackers during the festival. But, it remains to be seen what happens this year, in wake of the ban.
(With PTI inputs)
