As Delhi’s air quality crisis deepened, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was met with unexpected chants of “AQI, AQI” during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The incident, captured in a viral video, reflected growing public frustration as the national capital remained in the ‘severe’ air pollution category for the third consecutive day.
The video shows a section of the crowd chanting “AQI” as the Chief Minister arrived at the venue. The moment quickly spread across social media platforms, coinciding with plummeting visibility, dense smog, and a haze-covered skyline across Delhi.
Opposition Targets BJP Over Pollution Crisis
Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, shared the video online, using it to criticise the BJP-led government’s handling of the worsening air quality.
AAP’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj posted on X, calling the moment an “international embarrassment” and accusing the government of failing to address the pollution emergency as global attention was focused on the Messi event.
AAP has further alleged that both the Delhi government and the Centre have shown indifference toward the capital’s recurring air pollution crisis.
CM Rekha Gupta Responds Amid Backlash
Responding to criticism, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta continued to place responsibility on previous AAP and Congress governments, stating that air pollution in Delhi is a decades-old problem.
Addressing protesters at India Gate, Gupta said the issue has persisted for nearly 27 years and stressed that systemic solutions require time. She urged citizens to allow her government at least 27 months to demonstrate measurable progress in tackling pollution, according to PTI.
Delhi Remains in ‘Severe’ AQI Zone
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the overall AQI stood at 457 at 6 am on Monday, firmly within the ‘severe’ category. Later in the evening, the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app recorded an AQI of 410.
The dense smog disrupted daily life across the capital and the NCR, leading to:
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Reduced visibility and flight delays at Indira Gandhi International Airport
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Schools shifting to online classes for students up to Class 5
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An air quality advisory issued by the Singapore High Commission for its nationals living in Delhi-NCR
With pollution levels remaining alarmingly high, concerns continue to mount over public health, governance accountability, and long-term environmental solutions for the capital.
