Congress leader Anurag Dhanda on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Delhi government over the national capital’s worsening air quality, holding Chief Minister Rekha Gupta responsible for Delhi emerging as the most polluted major city in the world.
Anurag Dhanda Slams Delhi Government as Capital Tops Global Pollution Rankings
In a post on social media platform X, Dhanda alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister had made a “significant contribution” to pushing Delhi to the top of the global pollution list. Taking a sarcastic swipe, he said the situation was nothing to take pride in and warned against projecting the grim air quality figures as any form of achievement.
Dhanda pointed out that Delhi recorded an alarming Air Quality Index
Sharing global AQI data, Dhanda pointed out that Delhi recorded an alarming Air Quality Index of 841, placing it at number one among major cities worldwide. Lahore in Pakistan ranked second with an AQI of 462, while Dhaka and Karachi followed with AQI levels of 210 each. Kolkata stood fifth at 175, and Mumbai ranked seventh with an AQI of 157. Other cities on the list included Sarajevo, Manila, Kathmandu, Hanoi, Cairo and Baghdad.
The Congress leader’s remarks come at a time when Delhi-NCR continues to battle severe air pollution, with authorities issuing repeated health advisories. Medical experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such hazardous air can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, particularly affecting children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Dhanda’s criticism has added to the growing political debate over accountability for Delhi’s air pollution crisis. Opposition leaders have accused the government of failing to implement effective long-term solutions, while residents continue to suffer from reduced visibility, breathing difficulties and a deteriorating quality of life amid persistently high pollution levels.
