‘Request Kejriwal with folded hands’: Delhi minister says AAP ‘burning waste’ to increase pollution

By Admin

18 Dec, 2025

Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday made serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of deliberately burning garbage to worsen air pollution levels in the national capital. The remarks came at a time when Delhi continues to battle dangerously poor air quality and toxic smog across several areas.

Allegations of deliberate waste burning

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Sirsa claimed that members of the AAP were intentionally setting fire to garbage in order to increase the Air Quality Index (AQI). Expressing regret, the minister alleged that such actions reflected “dirty politics” that ignored the health and well-being of Delhi’s residents.

According to Sirsa, AAP leaders were “praying that the AQI should increase” and showed no concern for the people living in the city. He appealed to the party to refrain from activities that could further damage the environment.

Trilokpuri incident cited

To support his allegations, Sirsa cited an incident from the Trilokpuri area of East Delhi. He said he was informed by the local MLA that an AAP councillor had set fire to waste in his ward and later recorded a video of the burning garbage.

The minister was referring to a video shared by AAP councillor Vijay Kumar, which showed a heap of garbage burning in Trilokpuri and thick smoke rising into the already polluted air. The video surfaced amid worsening air quality across the capital.

Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal

Making an emotional appeal, Sirsa addressed AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal directly. He said, “I request Arvind Kejriwal with folded hands, please don’t do such dirty politics. Your children also live in Delhi. Don’t do this for your own people.”

The minister urged political parties to act responsibly during a public health crisis rather than turning pollution into a political tool.

New curbs announced to tackle pollution

Alongside the allegations, Sirsa announced several new measures aimed at improving Delhi’s air quality. These include 50% work from home for offices, mandatory Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for vehicles, and a ban on trucks carrying construction materials from entering the city.

He also appealed to people entering Delhi from outside to ensure their vehicles comply with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms. According to the minister, vehicles without valid PUC certificates will not be provided fuel starting immediately.

AAP’s response to the allegations

The Aam Aadmi Party strongly denied the accusations made by the BJP-led Delhi government. In a statement, AAP said Sirsa had a “habit of indulging in lies and fraud.”

The party alleged that since taking charge as environment minister, Sirsa had manipulated AQI readings by shutting down monitoring systems and spraying water on AQI stations to create a false narrative. AAP dismissed the garbage-burning allegation as “yet another lie” and challenged the minister to file an FIR if he had concrete evidence.

Current air quality situation in Delhi

On Wednesday, Delhi recorded an AQI of 334, placing it in the “very poor” category. Earlier in the week, pollution levels had remained in the “severe plus” category, with AQI readings crossing 400 for three consecutive days.

Several parts of the city continue to remain under a blanket of toxic smog. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 341, also categorised as “very poor.” Despite recent measures, overall air quality in the capital remains a major concern for residents and authorities alike.

Conclusion

As Delhi grapples with persistent air pollution, the political blame game has intensified. While the government has announced stricter curbs to control emissions, the allegations and counter-allegations highlight the growing tension around environmental governance in the capital. With public health at stake, citizens continue to hope for effective action beyond political disputes.