While Delhi chokes, Delhi CM Kejriwal is vacationing in Dubai
What's the story
While Delhi is choking under a blanket of haze, its Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has flown out of the country is currently in Dubai with his wife on a "private trip". Reportedly, the Kejriwals flew out in an Air India flight last night. Kejriwal's 'trip' comes at a time when the AAP government has come under criticism for not taking steps to curb pollution.
Details
Delhi government mum about Kejriwal's trip
While the Delhi government has remained tight-lipped about Kejriwal's little trip, Times Now has confirmed that Kejriwal, his wife Sunita, and power minister Satyendra Kumar is indeed in Dubai. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remains 'hazardous' in several areas, while in some areas, air quality has improved to the 'severe' category.
Twitter Post
Understandably, people are peeved and disappointed
While delhi is coughing with pollution our children are breathing 45 cigarettes per hour but our CM @ArvindKejriwal and Mrs kejriwal are in Dubai since yesterday, it was not expected from you sir ,PS : @AamAadmiParty is officially denying it @ndtv
— Saurabh shukla (@Saurabh_Ndtv) November 9, 2018
Crticism
The AAP govt is under fire from residents, the BJP
Kejriwal's trip comes at a time when residents have criticized the Delhi government for not taking adequate steps to try and curb air pollution. Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP, on Friday, accused the AAP government of doing "politics" over the issue of air pollution, and demanded that the government produce a "white paper" detailing steps it had taken so far to curb pollution.
Quote
The AAP govt is indifferent towards air pollution
"The AAP government is indifferent towards steps that need to be taken to make Delhi's air clean. Leaders of the party are levelling low-grade allegations to divert from the failure of their government," said Delhi BJP MLA, O P Sharma.
No steps
Earlier this year, the AAP govt was fined by NGT
While stubble burning is largely blamed for pollution in Delhi-NCR, the AAP government has also been accused of not trying curb the same. In April this year, the National Green Tribunal slapped a Rs. 2 lakh fine on the Delhi government for not filing an action plan to provide assistance and incentives to farmers to stop them from burning crop residues.