L-G blames AAP for pollution; Oppn. party calls it ‘letter theatrics’

In a letter to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena on Tuesday criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for not taking “adequate measures” to prevent pollution in the air and in the Yamuna river in the last 11 years. The Opposition party hit back, terming L-G’s move as “letter theatrics”. The L-G said Mr. Kejriwal was attempting to hold the BJP government, which has been in office for the past 10 months, responsible. “You are trying to bog down a government of 10 months, which is working to address issues inherited from your tenure,” the letter read. AAP spokesperson Anurag Dhanda alleged that the L-G was trying to “divert the attention from the government’s failure to control pollution”. ‘Blocked my number’ The L-G also claimed that Mr. Kejriwal stopped communicating with him after the February Assembly election. “I could have spoken to you in person or on the phone, but you did not meet me after the election and blocked my number,” Mr. Saxena wrote. He said AAP had not reflected on its defeat and continued to raise allegations on public issues. He mentioned that poor road conditions, drainage problems, garbage accumulation and air pollution developed during the AAP’s 11-year rule. Mr. Saxena also alleged that the AAP government discontinued weekly cabinet meetings. He said policy and administrative decisions were taken through circulation, which limited discussion and deliberation. ‘Yamuna cleaning neglected’ He also blamed the AAP government for the condition of the Yamuna river and Delhi’s drainage system. “Yamuna and the drains of Delhi suffered due to neglect for 11 years,” Mr. Saxena wrote, adding that repeated claims of cleaning the river did not result in improvement. He said the sewer lines and drains had not been desilted for more than a decade, leading to blockages and flooding in several areas. AAP spokesperson Ghanendra Bhardwaj said that during Mr. Kejriwal’s tenure, the L-G regularly objected to government decisions. “At a time when people are questioning the Delhi government about steps taken in the last ten months to reduce pollution, the L-G has remained silent,” he said. Published - December 24, 2025 01:38 am IST

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