Kiran Bedi, in a plea to Prime Minister Modi, expressed regret for the worsening air quality in Delhi.

By Ayush Sachan

Former top police officer Kiran Bedi on Friday issued an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene as the air pollution in Delhi worsens. Her message to the prime minister came on a day when several areas in the national capital recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 369, falling in the ‘very poor’ category.

Taking to X, Kiran Bedi urged the prime minister to address the issue during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, and even referenced his “effective” Zoom sessions with officials during her time as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

“Sir, I apologize for asking again, but I’ve witnessed your highly effective Zoom sessions during my time in Puducherry. I’ve seen how you managed to motivate everyone to deliver and perform within the time constraints of several national challenges. It’s evident that you’ve inspired everyone to meet deadlines and achieve their goals.” – Bedi’s tweet.

She urged PM Modi to hold virtual meetings with Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of Delhi’s neighbouring states every month to take stock of the progress in tackling pollution. “It will give us hope because we will know it’s under your oversight. People can heave a sense of relief,” she wrote.

Bedi urged Prime Minister Modi to address the issue in his Mann Ki Baat address, ensuring that all age groups are informed about their role in pollution control. She emphasized that Delhi was eagerly anticipating a “double engine” approach to reverse the damage caused over the past decade.

In response to the escalating pollution concerns in Delhi, Kiran Bedi has been actively utilizing her X account to raise awareness about air quality issues. She emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between states and officials, asserting that pollution is not an accidental occurrence but rather the result of decades of inadequate coordination in governance.

Delhi’s air quality has remained consistently poor, hovering between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ for the past two weeks, despite the implementation of anti-pollution measures. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi predicts that the air quality will likely continue to be ‘very poor’ throughout the coming week.