New Delhi: Blaming the ruling AAP for farm fires in Punjab, Delhi Forest and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday that the air quality index (AQI) rose by 11 points in the Capital after Diwali day and accused the party of vilifying the Hindu festival to appease its vote bank.

He also dismissed the AAP’s demand for carrying out artificial rain in the city, explaining that it remains an option, but it can be exercised only after favourable cloud conditions.

Addressing media persons, Sirsa trained his guns on the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for vilifying Diwali and Hindu traditions for causing poor AQI around the festival.

“Before Diwali, the AQI was 335 and after Diwali it was 356,” he said, adding that there is not m

See Full Page