Delhi pollution sparks ‘AQI’ chants toward CM Rekha Gupta during Messi's G.O.A.T India Tour | VIDEO
New Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was met with chants of “AQI, AQI” from a section of the crowd on Monday as she made a brief appearance while welcoming football legend Lionel Messi at Arun Jaitley Stadium here, highlighting public frustration over Delhi’s worsening air pollution.
The incident occured as the capital continued to grapple with hazardous air quality for a third consecutive day. Visibility dropped sharply and the skyline was shrouded in haze as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 498 in the morning before easing slightly to 427 by evening, placing Delhi firmly in the “severe” category.
A video of the crowd booing Gupta’s appearance quickly circulated on social media, prompting criticism from the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party accused the Delhi and central governments, both led by the BJP, of failing to respond adequately to what it described as an air pollution emergency.
Calling the incident an “international shame”, AAP’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj posted the clip on X, saying the chants reflected public anger over toxic air conditions during a high-profile global event.
AAP leaders said pollution across Delhi-NCR and parts of northern India had reached alarming levels, accusing authorities of indifference. Bharadwaj also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as silence on the issue.
CM Rekha Gupta, however, defended her government’s response, saying multiple measures were being taken to curb pollution. She blamed previous AAP and Congress administrations for failing to address the problem over the decades.
“The issue of air pollution is not new...There is a backlog of 27 years,” Gupta said recently. “The government needs at least 27 months to fix things. After 27 months, you can ask me about the steps we took to address air pollution.”
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that 27 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded “severe” air quality on Monday, with Wazirpur reporting the worst reading at 475. The CPCB does not record AQI values beyond 500.
The dense smog disrupted daily life across the city, with residents reporting health concerns and reduced visibility. One commuter said travelling had become risky, prompting many to wear masks and limit outdoor exposure.
Despite the pollution, thousands gathered at Arun Jaitley Stadium for the final stop of the Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour. The event concluded on a high note after a chaotic opening in Kolkata earlier in the tour.
Addressing fans briefly in Spanish, Messi said, “Gracias Delhi! Hasta pronto,” prompting loud cheers and emotional scenes among supporters eager for a glimpse of the football icon.
PTI