Congress questions Modi over Delhi air pollution, demands account of measures taken
Mallikarjun Kharge says recurring pollution crisis in Delhi and the National Capital Region reflected the government’s failure to address the problem
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge. File
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of taking piecemeal measures to tackle air pollution, asking why India was becoming a “Vishwaguru” in pollution.
In a post on X, Mr. Kharge asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would give the country an account of the measures taken to ensure clean air.
The Congress president said the recurring pollution crisis in Delhi and the National Capital Region reflected the government’s failure to address the problem. “Piecemeal measures, PR stunts, broken promises and blame games have become the hallmark of the BJP,” he said, adding that clean air was a fundamental right and not a privilege.
He alleged that PM2.5 readings had disappeared from 36 of Delhi’s 59 monitoring stations as pollution levels peaked this year. He also cited unspent environmental compensation collections of ₹1,154 crore and low utilisation of funds under the National Clean Air Programme.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s direction to the BJP-ruled States of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to submit responses and proposed measures to tackle pollution, Mr. Kharge asked: “Will Modi ji dare to give the nation ‘Hawa Ka Hisaab’ [An Account of the Air]?”
“Spend the funds. Cut emissions. Enforce the rules,” he said while calling for sustained action rather than recurring assurances and blame games.
Delhi / pollution / air pollution / government / Indian National Congress / Bharatiya Janata Party / Narendra Modi
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