BJP leader Vineet Agarwal Sharda on Tuesday, 6 November, said that Pakistan and China should be “blamed” for the high levels of pollution in the Delhi NCR and alleged either of the two countries could have released poisonous gases into India.
"Ye jo zehreeli hawa aa rahi hai, zehreeli gas aayi hai ho sakta hai kisi bagal ke mulk ne chhodi ho jo humse ghabraya hua hai. (There is a possibility that this poisonous gas could have been released by any neighbouring country which is afraid of us.) I feel that Pakistan or China are afraid of us," BJP leader Vineet Agarwal Sharda told ANI.
"Whenever Pakistan fought a war with India, it was defeated. Since PM Modi and Amit Shah came, Pakistan has become frustrated," added Sharda.
However, he’s not the only BJP leader who has made a comment about pollution or the odd-even scheme.
As the odd-even road rationing scheme to combat pollution came into effect from 8 am on Monday, 4 November, BJP MP Vijay Goel took to Twitter to slam the initiative, saying that he would drive his car to ITO from his residence to oppose it.
The odd-even scheme comes as Delhi's air quality plunged to 'severe' levels early on Monday morning, though improving marginally due to slight increase in the wind speed.
‘Carrots Help Against Pollution-Related Harm to Health’
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted about carrots as a solution to pollution-related harm to health.
His tweet was met with widespread criticism by users on the platform for ignoring the pollution crisis in the national capital.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar was also similarly slammed on the social media platform when he tweeted a music suggestion on Sunday. Incidentally, Sunday was when the pollution level in the national capital peaked to a three-year high.
‘Praying to Lord Indra’
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh minister Sunil Bharala suggested a 'unique' solution to the health emergency caused by pollution, believing that a 'yagna' will please Lord Indra, who would help reduce pollution by bringing rainfall.
Bharala said stubble burning is a natural process and does not cause pollution to such an extent.
"Farmers have always practised stubble burning and it is a natural process. Repeated criticism of it is unfortunate," he said. The UP minister suggested praying to Lord Indra will help combat pollution.
"Governments should hold 'Yagya' to please Lord Indra (God of Rain), as it has been done traditionally. Lord Indra will set things right," said Bharala, who is chairperson of Labour Welfare Board and enjoys the status of a state minister.
The minister added that when the farmers cultivate sugarcane and other crops, waste products are bound to generate and criticising the farmers for burning them is an attack on them.
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