Singapore High Commission’s advisory on air pollution triggers war of words

The Opposition parties sharpened their attack on the Rekha Gupta-led government over the continuing public health crisis after the Singapore High Commission issued a warning regarding air pollution in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) termed it an “international embarrassment” while the Congress sought Ms. Gupta’s resignation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Opposition of engaging in “petty politics”. The party’s Delhi unit chief, Virendra Sachdeva, claimed such advisories to be a “normal practice”. He said, “Whenever weather conditions worsen in any country or city, foreign governments often issue advisories for their citizens residing there.”

The advisory posted by Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong on X cited the restrictions imposed under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, including a ban on construction and demolition activities, and the Delhi government’s advisory to citizens to stay indoors, and said, “In this regard, the High Commission urges Singapore nationals in the Delhi National Capital Region to pay heed to this advice.”

Singapore nationals in the NCR who require consular assistance can contact the High Commission, it added.

PM’s ‘silence’

AAP’s Delhi in-charge Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” over the “emergency-like condition” due to hazardous air.

“This is not pollution, this is terror. It feels like gunpowder is filling up people’s lungs. The entire city is engulfed in smoke,” said the former Delhi Health Minister.

The Congress said the BJP government’s focus on comparing last year’s air pollution statistics with this year’s shows that it is “more concerned about its report card rather than the health of the people”.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said the BJP had come to power by making “false promises” and was running away from its responsibilities during the ongoing crisis.