New Delhi, Jan 6: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa today criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for raising protests on air pollution in the capital, calling it a “staged drama” after 11 years of inaction.
Sharing a statement, Sirsa alleged that the AAP, which governed Delhi for over a decade, repeatedly promised improvements in air quality but failed to deliver. “For eleven years, Arvind Kejriwal kept serving up lies. Every year, he said pollution would be fixed next year. Now they hide behind masks. Can’t the people of Delhi see the real faces behind their masked mouths?” Sirsa said.
The remarks come after AAP MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Atishi, staged a protest inside the Delhi Assembly yesterday, highlighting rising pollution levels and demanding urgent government action.
Sirsa dismissed the protest as a political stunt aimed at personal gains, asserting that the AAP leaders “occupied key positions for 11 years and have nothing to show today except fear for their health, not any real contribution to cleaning Delhi’s air.”
He described the opposition’s demonstration as “diversion tactics” intended to grab headlines while avoiding a proper discussion on their failures. The Minister confirmed that a detailed debate on pollution is scheduled in the ongoing Winter Session, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inviting all MLAs to participate. “This is the first time a government itself is saying, let’s debate pollution,” Sirsa added.
Highlighting the BJP-led government’s achievements, Sirsa said, “Under CM Rekha Gupta’s leadership, Delhi has registered more ‘Good Air Days’ and measurable improvements in air quality compared to previous years. These results are due to sustained efforts and a scientific approach toward pollution control.”