"Petty politics to blame Delhi for pollution": Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj
Oct 25, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 25 : Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday said that there is a need for the Central government to sit with states and make a long-term plan to curb pollution in Northern India instead of laying the blame on Delhi.
Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said "I believe that pollution is the problem of entire North India. Sometimes pollution is more in Uttar Pradesh, sometimes a city of Haryana comes at number 1, and sometimes a city of Rajasthan goes at number 1 in the world. For this, all the states and the Centre will have to work together."
He further said that it is petty politics to blame Delhi for the pollution as the Union Territory is very small in size comparable to other neighbouring states.
"If you look at the area of Delhi, Delhi is so small that it is not even visible on the map of India. To think that pollution is happening in North India because of Delhi is petty politics. The Central Government will have to work with the states to make better and long-term plans. Only when pollution comes, blaming others will not help." he added.
Further reacting to PM Modi's remarks on casteism at Dwarka yesterday, the Delhi Minister said "He is the first Prime Minister of the country who contested elections by declaring his caste. This does not suit the mouth of such a Prime Minister. It is most important to eliminate poverty in the country. It is necessary to end unemployment and inflation. If these things end, then regionalism and casteism will themselves end."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called upon people to finish off forces trying to divide the country with casteism and regionalism.
Addressing a huge gathering in Dwarka, Delhi, he said the festival should also mark the burning of ideologies that detract from India's development. "It should not be confined to the burning of Ravana's effigies and Lord Ram's victory over the demon but also mark the triumph of patriotism over every evil in the country," he said.
