What sort of life is this? Adityanath’s unexpected jab at Delhi’s BJP government over AQI

Likening the air quality of the national capital to a ‘gas chamber’, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday asserted that people in Uttar Pradesh enjoy a clean environment and are not being suffocated, despite all the developmental work.

While speaking at an event in Gorakhpur, Adityanath stated that one of the biggest global challenges today is environmental degradation. “The environment here is quite good; there is no pollution. Without pollution, there are fewer diseases. Whenever pollution exists, it harms the lungs. If our supply of oxygen is compromised, the entire body suffers,” he explained.

He shifted his focus to Delhi’s air quality, saying, “You see the condition in Delhi? It feels like a gas chamber. The situation is dire; breathing is difficult, and there’s a burning sensation in the eyes. Doctors advise those suffering from asthma, as well as the elderly and children, to stay indoors. What kind of life is this?”

He cautioned that any disruption to the environment could lead to similar circumstances. “We are fortunate here; we have development without a suffocating environment,” Adityanath added.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality was classified as “poor” at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) rating of 211.

The CPCB states that an AQI of zero to fifty is deemed “good,” 51 to one hundred “satisfactory,” 101 to two hundred “moderate,” 201 to three hundred “poor,” 301 to four hundred “very poor,” and 401 to five hundred “severe.”