As Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Diwali, November 8, several Union ministers were celebrating across different parts of the country and abroad, according to their public statements and social media posts.
Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376 on Diwali, its most polluted Diwali in five years. At 10 pm, 20 monitoring stations had recorded air quality in the ‘severe’ category. The following morning, the AQI stood at 371 at 10 am, the highest post-Diwali reading for that time since 2021.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Sherathang near Nathu La in Sikkim, where he paid tribute to fallen soldiers and celebrated with troops. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, while Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal celebrated at his home in Dibrugarh, Assam.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju attended Haj-related discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and shared footage of Diwali celebrations at India House. Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal celebrated with his family in Bikaner, Rajasthan, while Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary performed puja at his home in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse was in Kothali village in Maharashtra, where she reportedly celebrated with farm labourers’ families. Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi was in Hubballi, Karnataka.
Home Minister Amit Shah spent Diwali at his residence in Ahmedabad, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated with security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
The report also highlighted videos circulating on social media that appeared to show Health Minister JP Nadda lighting fireworks during Diwali celebrations, drawing criticism amid the worsening pollution crisis.
The ministers’ reported locations came as Delhi residents faced reduced visibility, smog and health concerns linked to hazardous air pollution.
Source: The Telegraph
