Delhi Home Minister Criticizes Kejriwal Over Pollution Management

Delhi's Home Minister Ashish Sood has sharply criticized former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly using the city's pollution crisis as a political tool. During a press conference, Sood questioned the scientific validity of Kejriwal's pollution management strategies, particularly the odd-even scheme, which has faced scrutiny from the National Green Tribunal. He also accused the AAP government of obstructing improvements in public transport and highlighted that a significant portion of Delhi's pollution comes from surrounding states. Sood's remarks raise important questions about the effectiveness of current measures to combat pollution in the capital.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 12:42 IST

Sood's Accusations Against Kejriwal

On Friday, Ashish Sood, the Home Minister of Delhi, launched a strong critique against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the pollution crisis in the city. During a press conference, he claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is exploiting the pollution issue as a propaganda tool to strengthen its political influence. Responding to Kejriwal's assertions about adopting scientific methods to combat pollution, Sood pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously reprimanded Kejriwal for the odd-even scheme, questioning what scientific measures he had truly implemented to address the pollution problem. He emphasized that he does not wish to politicize the pollution issue.

Critique of AAP's Scientific Claims

Sood remarked that some unemployed leaders recently claimed that Kejriwal had adopted a very scientific approach. He questioned what this approach was, referring to the odd-even scheme, which the NGT criticized. The tribunal stated, 'You had 100 suggestions, but you always chose odd-even.' He further noted another so-called revolutionary step: turning the engine off and on at red lights. According to Sood, pollution in Delhi has always been a means for Kejriwal to bolster his political credibility, and he does not want to politicize the air that children breathe.

Obstruction in Public Transport Improvements

Continuing his allegations, Sood accused the AAP government of obstructing the central government's efforts to enhance the city's public transport system. He stated that if their intentions were genuine, they should have worked on improving Delhi's transport and waste management systems. If they believe that pollution in Delhi is caused by dust, they should have installed cleaning machines in the city. He criticized the lack of efforts towards last-mile connectivity, stating that instead, they hindered the central government's initiatives to improve public transport, including various phases of the RRTS and DMRC metro projects. He pointed out that while they lacked funds for public transport improvements, they had money for advertisements, a claim supported by the Supreme Court.

Pollution Sources and Government Actions

Addressing the pollution issue in Delhi, Minister Ashish Sood emphasized that a significant portion of the pollution originates from neighboring states. He mentioned that the Delhi government has installed AQI meters in green areas across the city. Sood also noted that in 2017-18, 20 stations were added to the Green 20 list.