BJP leader Kapil Mishra on Monday said he is “proud of Delhi” for bursting crackers on Diwali, while terming the move as “voices of freedom and democracy”.

On Diwali, the people in Delhi defied the Supreme Court's order of a complete ban on firecrackers in the national capital and NCR, amid deteriorating air quality.

Post Diwali on Monday, a thick layer of smog engulfed Delhi, leading to heavy pollution all across the city.

However, Mishra said “these are voices of freedom and democracy”. “Proud of You Delhi. These are voices of resistance , voices of freedom and democracy. People are bravely defying unscientific, illogical , dictatorial ban. Happy Diwali,” the Delhi BJP vice president wrote on social media X.

Raising concerns over the deteriorating air pollution in Delhi, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale accused BJP MPs and ministers of violating the ban “in the heart of the capital”.

“Thanks Delhi (especially the BJP MPs & Ministers who live down the street) for the last 6 hours of non-stop fireworks. Don’t understand the point of a ‘ban’ when ruling party leaders themselves are violating it in the heart of the capital. AQI has hit 999 - machines can’t calculate beyond that,” Gokhale posted on X.

“Hope that putting people through suffering & infections made this festival season a bit more cheerful for BJP netas,” he added.

In another post, Gokhale said he has written the Joint Connaught Place HQ of Delhi Police to provide details of how many cases of firecracker use were registered last night and what action has been taken.

“Delhi Police needs to answer immediately & own responsibility for us breathing in a gas chamber. This morning, Delhi has woken up to a hazardous level of pollution with an AQI of 999+ thanks to bursting of fireworks last night. Despite a ban by the Supreme Court, fireworks have been easily procured & used in the city. Last night, several BJP MPs & Ministers were bursting firecrackers in my neighborhood for hours at their ‘Diwali party’,” Gokhale wrote while posting a copy of the letter.

“BJP leaders are openly defying SC orders in the heart of Delhi. Delhi Police has become subservient to the BJP & took no action. We need to know why Delhi Police hasn't done its job & why millions of residents of Delhi (including children, senior citizens, and vulnerable patients) are suffering in a gas chamber this morning,” he added.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital, at 9.18pm on Diwali night, was recorded at 197 'moderate'.

However, on Sunday morning, the average AQI was around 300 in most places in Delhi, data collected by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed. The PM2.5 and PM10 pollutant levels touched 500 at most places during the day, including in Rohini, ITO, and Delhi airport area.
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