“If you are bursting firecrackers, do it, but take full responsibility for it. You cannot commit fraud,” Bharadwaj said.

NEW DELHI: AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday questioned the credibility of the government’s air quality data, alleging that monitoring stations had been shut down, new ones set up at distant locations and water sprinkled on stations to manipulate readings. Bharadwaj claimed that several areas in Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of over 3,000 on Sunday night, adding that people had lost faith in the government’s official pollution data. “Government data is based on fraud. We revealed how stations were shut down, how 20 new AQI stations were set up at faraway locations in Delhi and how water is being sprinkled on stations. So, people do not trust the government’s AQI. I, for one, do not trust it,” Bharadwaj told news agency ANI. He further alleged that presenting misleading pollution figures put people’s lives at risk and demanded that the government take responsibility for the impact of firecracker use during Diwali. “If you are bursting firecrackers, do it, but take full responsibility for it. You cannot commit fraud,” Bharadwaj said. His remarks came amid concerns over deteriorating air quality in the national capital following Diwali celebrations. Air quality in the national capital continued to worsen, with several parts of Delhi recording AQI levels in the 'Severe' category in the early hours of Monday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick blanket of smog enveloped several parts of Delhi, severely reducing visibility in the early morning hours, including in the Inderlok area. According to the CPCB, the air quality station at ITO recorded an alarming AQI of 406 at around 4:20 am, categorising it as 'Severe'. Meanwhile, several other key areas in the capital continued to reel under the 'Very Poor' air quality bracket. Rajiv Chowk clocked an AQI of 381 at 1:30 am, while the area surrounding South Extension registered an AQI of 360 at 4:00 am. Meanwhile, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that a campaign was being orchestrated from the latter's residence to target Diwali and Sanatan Dharma in the name of pollution. In a post on X, Mishra claimed that leaders and paid celebrities would be rolled out to run a targeted narrative. Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is in force across Delhi-NCR.(With agency inputs)

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