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Residents Crack the fireworks ban, post Diwali air quality worsens in Delhi-NCR

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Post-Diwali-pollution

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Delhi woke up to a hazy Friday after Diwali celebrations with the air pollution in “severe” category, partly because ban on sale of crackers in National Capital Region (NCR) failed to fully prevent fireworks.

The Supreme Court had on October 9 had affirmed a ban it had imposed on the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR, which consists of 23 districts in three states that border Delhi—14 in Haryana, seven in Uttar Pradesh and two in Rajasthan. The court had said the ban would be lifted at the end of this month, to see if there is any positive effect during Diwali.

The ban on sale of crackers did not prevent Delhiites from bursting them. Initially, Diwali got off to a much quieter start with much lesser noise and smoke till about 6 pm, compared to the previous years. But as the festivities picked up, the faint echo of crackers started growing louder and the pollution indexes sharply rose from 7 pm.

The air quality in Delhi and around was better, but only slightly, than last year’s. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was reported to have said that the pollution levels in Delhi were slightly lower compared to the air quality recorded during Diwali in 2016. The air quality index (AQI) value yesterday was 319 (Very Poor) while the air quality index last Diwali (October 30) had touched 431 (Severe).

AQI level from 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401 and above is severe.

An AQI reading of ‘very poor’ essentially means that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on a prolonged exposure to such air.

‘Severe’ category air pollution means that even healthy people will experience reduced endurance in activities and may feel strong irritations and symptoms and may trigger other illnesses. It may seriously impact those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

In the NCR which includes Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad, an AQI between 400-420 was recorded today morning. Crackers were, however, burst in these regions yesterday, raising question marks on the efficacy of the administration in enforcing the top court’s ban.

A few places of the National Capital Region recorded a steep hike in pollution levels with more than 24 times the average level.

Overall, the AQI was above 400 in most places in Delhi-NCR. The US embassy’s pollution monitor recorded ‘hazardous’ air quality with the index scoring an alarming 878, which the mission considers “beyond its air quality index”, which ends at 500.

The AQI value hit the dangerous 978 mark in RK Puram, Delhi. Media reports said at 11 pm in RK Puram, PM10 read 1179 while PM2.5, the finer particulate matter, was 878 microgram per cubic metre, the highest across all DPCC stations this Diwali. The pollutants had violated the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 respectively by up to 10 times.

Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh and Anand Vihar area recorded the highest level of pollution with AQI at 999 on Friday morning, which is considered to be hazardous.

The minimum level of pollution, An AQI of 221, was recorded at East Delhi’s Dilshad Garden.

The highest level of AQI, 999 – beyond which no readings are available – was recorded in the capital’s Punjabi Bagh and Anand Vihar areas.

The SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), a government agency under the Earth Science ministry, estimated the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 at 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm, PTI reported.

Measures under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) for the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, which include a ban on diesel generator sets, came into effect on October 17 and they will remain in force till March 15.

Going by SAFAR’s forecast, the post-Diwali air will not be as poor as last year, when it was the worst in three decades. It said a host of favourable conditions were helping prevent the entry of smoke-filled air from the agricultural belt of Haryana and Punjab, where farmers burn crop stubble.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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