New Delhi, November 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A social media post by Congress leader Alka Lamba on Delhi’s air pollution has triggered a political row, with the BJP accusing the Congress of targeting Diwali, Sanatan Dharma and Hindus in the name of pollution control.
The BJP said efforts to tackle pollution should involve everyone and should not be driven by religious considerations. The controversy erupted after Lamba posted on Sunday: “Delhi’s Diwali—with pollution. Wishing you a happy Diwali.”
Speaking to IANS, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra said, “I do not agree with targeting Diwali, Sanatan Dharma or Hindus in the name of pollution. We must all fight pollution together, but running a campaign targeting the festival of a particular religion is not right. This has become a trend among certain people who remain silent at other times but launch targeted campaigns during Diwali.”
BJP leader Mrityunjay Tiwari said the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party had governed Delhi for a considerable period. He said pollution after Diwali was a matter of concern and called for both government action and public awareness to address the problem.
Defending Lamba, Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao accused the BJP government in Delhi of failing to take adequate steps to tackle pollution. He said residents continued to suffer and urged the government to prioritise pollution control.
Meanwhile, several monitoring stations in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality on Monday, a day after widespread firecracker use during Diwali celebrations despite restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court.
The court had permitted only certified green crackers during specified windows of 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on November 7 and 8, with a complete ban taking effect again on November 9. However, firecrackers were reportedly burst outside the permitted hours, while illegal sales of conventional crackers had also been reported ahead of the festival.
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