Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the COVID-19 situation is deteriorating in Delhi due to the rising air pollution as he appealed to people not to burst firecrackers, and join him and his ministers instead in a ‘Laxmi Pujan’ programme to be organised by the AAP government this Diwali.
Arvind Kejriwal statements
Addressing an online media briefing, Arvind Kejriwal said he along with his cabinet ministers will perform ‘Laxmi Pujan’ at 7.39 pm on November 14. He also urged Delhiiites to join them from their homes by watching it on television and online mode and perform the rituals at the same time.
Kejriwal said to avoid firecrackers
“If we burst firecrackers on this Diwali, we are playing with the lives of our children and families…” he stated.
On Wednesday, the city saw yet another record single-day jump in COVID-19 cases with over 6,800 confirmed infections. As Kejriwal had said the city was witnessing the “third wave” of the virus amid rising air pollution levels and festive seasons.
The city has been witnessing a fresh surge in coronavirus cases over the last few days.
Last year, Delhi government had hosted a laser show at Connaught Place on the occasion of Diwali. And the festival was celebrated together by people.
“This time too, we will celebrate Diwali together and won’t burst firecrackers in any condition. There will be wonderful atmosphere and good vibes as two crore people will perform Laxmi Pujan. It will lead to well being in each household,” Kejriwal said on Thursday.
More things Kejriwal said on Thursday
On Thursday morning, a layer of haze lingered over the national capital and its suburbs, with raging farm fires. And also a fall in the wind speed and temperatures pushing air quality to the worst levels in around a year.
“This happens every year due to parali (paddy stubble) burning. And its unfortunate that truely concerned states have not taken any ‘concrete’ step to check this problem,” he said.
He said the farmers in the neighbouring states have told him that they do not want to burn Parali. It was so because it kills soil bacteria and reduced fertility. But they have no option as their governments did nothing to help them.
Delhi government has arranged free of cost spray of a bio decomposer developed by Pusa Institute in the fields with consent of farmers to avoid burning paddy stubble.