In a significant escalation of the ongoing political tussle over the national capital's environmental health, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has directly held former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responsible for the severe air quality crisis gripping Delhi.
A Scathing Accusation of Neglect
On Tuesday, Saxena penned a detailed 15-page letter addressed to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener. The core of the communication was a damning indictment of the Kejriwal-led government's environmental record. Saxena attributed the current "emergency air situation" in the capital to what he termed as "11 years of neglect and criminal inaction" on the part of Kejriwal and his administration.
The letter marks a new chapter in the long-standing power struggle between the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Delhi government. By directly naming Kejriwal and accusing his government of criminal inaction, Saxena has framed the pollution issue not just as a policy failure but as a matter of grave administrative and moral lapse.
The Content and Context of the Letter
The extensive 15-page document is understood to catalog various instances and areas where the LG believes the Delhi government faltered in its duty to curb air pollution. While the full contents are yet to be made public, the language used is unequivocal and harsh, indicating a comprehensive list of grievances accumulated over more than a decade.
This development comes at a time when Delhi and the larger National Capital Region (NCR) are once again experiencing a sharp deterioration in air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently entering the "severe" and "very poor" categories. The annual winter pollution spike has become a public health emergency, leading to school closures, health advisories, and widespread public concern.
Political Repercussions and Public Health Emergency
The direct accusation from the Raj Bhavan is certain to trigger a fierce political backlash from the AAP, which has often blamed stubble burning in neighbouring states and the central government's lack of support as primary causes for Delhi's pollution woes. The letter formalizes the blame game, moving it from public speeches to an official communication.
For Delhi's residents, the exchange highlights the deep-seated governance paralysis that often accompanies the city's annual environmental crisis. As authorities engage in a war of words, the public health emergency continues unabated, affecting millions. The situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated, blame-free action between all stakeholders—the central government, the Delhi government, and the governments of surrounding states.
This story is still developing, with reactions from Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership awaited. The letter sets the stage for a major confrontation that could dominate the political discourse in Delhi in the coming days.
