English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Delhi-‘a gas chamber’, says Arvind Kejriwal, all schools closed till Nov 5

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is struggling to deal with rising air pollution levels in the national capital, today described the city as a “gas chamber” while distributing breathing masks to school children.

Published

6 years ago

on

Delhi Pollution

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is struggling to deal with rising air pollution levels in the national capital, today described the city as a “gas chamber” while distributing breathing masks to school children. In strongly-worded posts on social media, Mr Kejriwal also blamed the governments of neighbouring states – Haryana and Punjab – for “forcing farmers to burn stubble” that he said had led to the problem in Delhi.

The Chief Minister also urged school students to write to “Captain Uncle and Khattar uncle”, referring to Captain Amarinder Singh and Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana, respectively. “Please write letters to Captain Uncle and Khattar uncle and say, ‘Please think about our health’,” Mr Kejriwal told children today, while distributing breathing masks.

“Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states. It is very important that we protect ourselves from this toxic air. Through pvt & govt schools, we have started distributing 50 lakh masks today. I urge all Delhiites to use them whenever needed,” Mr Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

The Delhi government has purchased 50 lakh N95 masks to be given to children in private and government schools.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), has declared a public health emergency in the Delhi-NCR region. “We have to take this as a public health emergency as air pollution will have adverse health impact on all, particularly our children,” Bhure Lal, EPCA Chairperson said in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of the UP, Haryana and Delhi governments.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”The Khattar and Captain governments are forcing farmers to burn stubble, which is causing severe pollution in Delhi. Yesterday, people protested at Punjab and Haryana Bhavan and expressed their anger against governments there,” he added in Hindi.

“People are facing difficulty in breathing and to provide relief, we’re distributing 2 masks to each student in private & govt schools,” the AAP chief said.

On Tuesday Mr Kejriwal had appealed “with folded hands” to Punjab and Haryana to take concrete steps against stubble burning.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Air quality in Delhi has plummeted post-Diwali, which Chief Minister Kejriwal said was the “lowest in five years”. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded 412 this morning, which falls in the “very severe” category.

According to the data, the contribution of stubble burning to the haze and air pollution in Delhi-NCR was 35 per cent on Wednesday, 24 per cent on Thursday and is likely to be 25 per cent today. In addition, according to SAFAR data available on Wednesday, the number of stubble burning fires had doubled over the past 48 hours – from 1,200 to 2,700.

(With Inputs from agencies)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Pawan Khera faces fresh setback as Supreme Court refuses relief in passport row case

Congress leader Pawan Khera faces fresh setback as Supreme Court refuses interim relief and directs him to seek bail from Guwahati High Court.

Published

3 hours ago

on

April 17, 2026

By

Pawan Khera

Congress leader Pawan Khera suffered another legal setback on Friday after the Supreme Court of India declined to extend protection in a case linked to his remarks about Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.

A bench of the apex court refused to interfere with an earlier order that had stayed the transit anticipatory bail granted to Khera by the Telangana High Court. This decision leaves the Congress leader open to possible arrest by Assam Police in connection with the case.

During the hearing, Khera’s counsel sought interim protection, but the court declined the request and advised him to approach the appropriate court in Assam for relief. The bench clarified that the Guwahati High Court should decide any bail plea independently and on its merits.

“Am I a terrorist?” remark during hearing

While seeking protection, Khera’s legal team expressed concern over the urgency of the situation. In court, his counsel remarked, “Am I a terrorist?” highlighting the plea for temporary relief until a fresh bail application could be filed.

The Supreme Court also raised concerns over the submission of incorrect documents during the proceedings, adding another layer to the legal complications faced by the Congress leader.

Case linked to remarks on CM’s wife

The case stems from a press conference held earlier this month, where Khera made allegations regarding the citizenship status and financial assets of the Assam Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

He had claimed that she possessed multiple passports and owned undisclosed overseas properties. These allegations were strongly denied by the Chief Minister’s family, who termed them fabricated and misleading.

Legal battle intensifies

Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera temporary transit anticipatory bail, allowing him time to seek relief from a competent court in Assam. However, the Supreme Court stayed that order following a challenge by Assam authorities, escalating the legal battle.

With the latest ruling, Khera is now expected to move the Guwahati High Court for anticipatory bail as the case continues to unfold.

Continue Reading

India News

Congress suspends 5 Haryana MLAs over cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls

Congress suspends five Haryana MLAs for cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections, citing serious indiscipline and anti-party activities.

Published

5 hours ago

on

April 17, 2026

By

The Congress has suspended five of its MLAs in Haryana for cross-voting during the recent Rajya Sabha elections, taking disciplinary action over what it described as “anti-party activities”.

The move came after the state unit reviewed the conduct of certain legislators during the polls, where some were found to have voted against the party’s authorised candidate.

Five MLAs suspended after disciplinary process

According to party sources, the MLAs were issued show-cause notices seeking an explanation for their actions. After reviewing their responses, the Congress disciplinary committee recommended suspension.

The decision was approved by the party leadership, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and has been implemented with immediate effect.

Party calls it ‘grave indiscipline’

Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan said the action was necessary to uphold party discipline, stressing that defying the official party line during elections weakens organisational unity.

He said the party takes such violations seriously and will continue to act against any form of indiscipline.

Leadership backs strict action

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda supported the decision, saying it was taken after due consideration.

He noted that while Rajya Sabha elections are conducted through an open ballot system, allowing legislators some flexibility, the party retains the authority to initiate internal disciplinary action in cases of deviation.

Background

The action follows cross-voting reported during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana, which led to internal concerns within the party. The development has highlighted organisational challenges and prompted the leadership to take corrective steps to reinforce discipline.

Continue Reading

India News

Harivansh set to be elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson unopposed

Harivansh is set to be elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman after no opposition nominations were filed before the deadline.

Published

6 hours ago

on

April 17, 2026

By

Former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh is set to be re-elected to the same post unopposed in the election due to be held later today.
The date has been fixed by the Chairman under the relevant rules governing the conduct of business in the Upper House.
According to sources, the deadline for submitting motions for the election was 12 noon on April 16. A total of five notices were received within the stipulated time, all proposing Harivansh for the post.

Multiple nominations, single candidate
The motions were submitted by members across parties, including Jagat Prakash Nadda, Nitin Nabin, Nirmala Sitharaman, Sanjay Kumar Jha, and Jayant Chaudhary, each backed by seconding members.
All five motions explicitly state that Harivansh be chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

No opposition nomination filed

Notably, no motion was submitted by the Opposition before the deadline. This effectively clears the path for a unanimous election, as there is no contest for the position.
As per parliamentary procedure, motions will be taken up one by one. Once any one motion is adopted by the House, the remaining motions will not be put to vote.

Likely to be elected by voice vote
In line with established practice, the first motion — expected to be moved by Nadda — may be adopted through a voice vote. Following this, the Chairman will formally declare Harivansh as elected Deputy Chairman.
After the declaration, Harivansh will be escorted to the Chair by members from both the Treasury and Opposition benches, adhering to parliamentary convention.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com