"Some Burst Crackers On Purpose, BJP Made Them Do It": Delhi Minister
NDTV
Gopal Rai also blamed smoke from 3,500 farm fires (to burn stubble and agricultural waste) for the horrific air pollution in the city - which spike to off-the-chart levels this time every year
As Delhi chokes under a cloud of toxic air - courtesy thousands who defied government orders banning firecrackers this Diwali - the national capital's Environment Minister Gopal Rai has lashed out at the BJP, accusing it of instigating people to "burst firecrackers on purpose".
Mr Rai also blamed smoke from 3,500 farm fires (to burn stubble and agricultural waste) for the horrific air pollution in the city - which spike to off-the-chart levels this time every year.
"A large number of people did not burst firecrackers. I thank them all. But some people burst firecrackers on purpose. The BJP made them do it," he said Friday afternoon, declaring that the city's "base pollution level" had remained unchanged.
Violation of the government's firecracker ban was widespread, with reports coming in as early as 7 pm from Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi, Burari in the northern part of the city, Paschim Vihar in the west and Shahdara in the east.
