New Delhi – Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s controversial AQI temperature remark, questioning the scientific basis behind comparing the Air Quality Index to temperature measurements. The former Delhi Chief Minister’s criticism came after Gupta made statements that have sparked widespread debate about pollution monitoring practices in the national capital.
Kejriwal Questions “New Science” Behind AQI Temperature Remark
In a strongly worded response to the AQI temperature remark made by his successor, Arvind Kejriwal asked, “When did this new science come?” The former Chief Minister expressed incredulity at the comparison between AQI readings and temperature measurements, suggesting that such statements reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of air quality monitoring.
Kejriwal’s critique of the AQI temperature remark focused on what he characterized as an attempt to justify controversial pollution control measures that have come under intense scrutiny from opposition parties and environmental activists.
Allegations of Water Spraying at AQI Monitors
The former Delhi CM claimed that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had effectively “admitted” that water is being sprayed at AQI monitors to keep pollution readings artificially low. This allegation forms a crucial component of Kejriwal’s criticism of the AQI temperature remark and the broader pollution management strategy.
“First point – The Chief Minister has at least accepted that wherever AQI monitors are installed, water spraying is being done there so that the truth about pollution doesn’t reach the people of Delhi. In other words, a game is underway to hide the data and show ‘clean air,'” Kejriwal wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Scientific Validity of AQI Temperature Remark Questioned
Kejriwal specifically challenged the scientific foundation of the AQI temperature remark, asking for clarification on when such a scientific principle was established. “Second point – When did this new science come about that AQI has now become temperature?” he added in his social media post.
This pointed question highlighted what Kejriwal portrayed as a concerning lack of understanding about air quality monitoring among current Delhi government officials, particularly in the context of the controversial AQI temperature remark.
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BJP Government Under Fire for Pollution Tactics
Delhi’s BJP government has faced mounting criticism for its methods to tackle rising AQI in the national capital, especially after several videos circulating on social media claimed to show water being sprayed near AQI monitors. These viral videos provided visual evidence that seemed to support Kejriwal’s interpretation of the AQI temperature remark as an inadvertent admission.
The controversy surrounding the AQI temperature remark and associated water spraying allegations has intensified scrutiny of the government’s pollution control strategies, with opposition parties demanding transparent and scientifically sound approaches to air quality management.
Delhi’s Deteriorating Air Quality Situation
Despite the controversy over the AQI temperature remark and pollution control measures, Delhi’s air quality remained firmly in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday, with the AQI staying above 300. This persistent pollution crisis provides the backdrop against which the debate over the AQI temperature remark has unfolded.
Forecasts suggest that pollution levels are likely to deteriorate further and slip into the ‘very poor to severe’ range in the coming days. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 314 at 4 PM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, compared to 308 at the same time on Sunday.
CM Rekha Gupta’s Original Statement
The controversial AQI temperature remark was made by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a leadership summit on Saturday, when she was questioned about opposition allegations regarding water spraying on air monitors in pollution hotspots to falsify data.
“Tell me, what is a hotspot? A hotspot is an area with the highest pollution levels. Right? What’s the solution? You spray there, you water it. You work to improve the soil. So, you’ll spray only on the hotspot,” Gupta responded, attempting to justify the practice.
The Controversial Temperature Comparison
It was during this explanation that Gupta made the now-controversial AQI temperature remark that has drawn widespread criticism. She compared AQI readings with temperature measurements, stating that watering was the only solution to the pollution problem.
“Does using a monitor bring down the AQI? AQI is like a temperature which you can know from any instrument, so watering it is the only solution which we are also doing,” she stated, creating the AQI temperature remark that Kejriwal and others have seized upon as evidence of confused thinking about pollution control.
Opposition’s Data Manipulation Accusations
The AQI temperature remark has reinforced opposition allegations that the Delhi government is attempting to manipulate pollution data rather than implementing genuine solutions to the capital’s air quality crisis. Critics argue that spraying water near monitoring stations provides temporary localized relief that creates misleading readings rather than addressing systemic pollution sources.
These accusations gained credibility following the AQI temperature remark, which many interpreted as an inadvertent confirmation of practices designed to artificially lower recorded pollution levels.
Scientific Community’s Perspective
Environmental scientists and air quality experts have expressed concern about the AQI temperature remark and the apparent confusion it represents regarding fundamental pollution monitoring principles. The Air Quality Index measures pollutant concentrations in the air, while temperature is a separate meteorological parameter—comparing the two reveals a misunderstanding of basic environmental science.
Political Implications and Public Trust
The controversy surrounding the AQI temperature remark extends beyond technical details to broader questions about public trust in government pollution data and the political will to address Delhi’s persistent air quality crisis through substantive rather than cosmetic measures that might artificially improve monitoring station readings without genuinely cleaning the air residents breathe daily.
