Delhi’s Air Quality Index has reached an all-time high as compared to the past three years. TOI reported that today’s AQI lies at 491 which means that Delhiites are surrounded by hazardous air making it immensely difficult to breathe. As a result, numerous flights have been delayed and all schools have been shut because of the smog.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, PM Narendra Modi in his address to global business leaders in Bangkok said that “this is the best time to be in India”, reported India Today.
PM in Bangkok: This is the best time to be in India. Many things are rising while others are falling. Ease of doing business, ease of living, FDI, forest cover, patents, productivity, infrastructure are rising. While taxes, tax rates, red tapism, corruption,cronyism are falling. pic.twitter.com/YAFYgDRxSj
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2019
“For investment and easy business, come to India. To innovate and starting up, come to India. To experience some of the best tourist sites and warm hospitality of people, come to India. India awaits you with open arms,” the PM said.
In addition to PM Modi’s comment, Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar took to Twitter to advice Indians to start their day with music. He went on to recommend a veena composition named “Swagatam” by Emani Sankara.
अपने दिन की शुरुआत संगीत से करें। नीचे वीणा प्रतिपादक 'इमानी संकरा सास्त्री' की एक 'विषयगत' रचना "स्वगतम्" की कड़ी दी गई है। क्लिक करें https://t.co/9e4mtx6I64
ऐसी और रचनाओं के लिए: https://t.co/yMIlz7rrA9#IndianMusic https://t.co/9e4mtx6I64
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 3, 2019
Keeping in mind the major air crisis in Delhi in addition to other crucial problems like poverty and economic slowdown; people are asking “How is it the best time to come to India?”
We read about this in futuristic dystopian novels. The future is upon us. Dystopia is upon us. Hell is upon us.#DelhiAir #DelhiBachao
— Saumya Kulshreshtha (@Saumyakul) November 3, 2019
“This is the best time to be in India and breathe in a gas chamber or to enjoy clean air in Thailand? @narendramodi @KhyatiRajvanshi @vibhaas10 @Swamy39 @AmitShah
— Avnish Rajvanshi (@AvnishRajvanshi) November 3, 2019
Inhaling #DelhiAir is suicide!
— Monica Kapoor (@modernwomaniya) November 3, 2019
Yeah bro this is the best time to be in India. 😷🤒 pic.twitter.com/wDQkHTZtT7
— Democratic Indians (@DemocraticInd13) November 3, 2019
This is the best time to be in India as per our PM -people are inhaling poison and there is no attempt from Govt to even declare an emergency -perhaps we do deserve them @ArvindKejriwal @narendramodi –#AirPollution https://t.co/KwxrABW8mV
— Yasmin Kidwai (@YasminKidwai) November 4, 2019
Delhi – NCR has been declared Heath emergency by the Delhi govt till Tuesday. Absolutely ridiculous situation there. And modi over there in Thailand saying, this is the best time to travel to India. Unbelievable!
— প্রসেনজিৎ.. Prasenjit.. پرسنجیت. (@PrasenjiTweets) November 3, 2019
Yes,the govt needs to do a lot to solve this problem
However,we are playing a blame game
First stop bursting crackers,stop using pvt vehicles and grow plants
then blame someone else for this.#Delhi #DelhiPollution #DelhiSmog #DelhiAir #DelhiChokes #LetsUniteAgainstPollution pic.twitter.com/xwNnw3DuJk— Manan Hingorani (@manan_hingorani) November 4, 2019
Half of North India is choking on poisonous air.
All of India is reeling from economic recession.
Majority of the youth are struggling to find employment.
But for PM #Modi (who incidentally is in Bangkok), this is the best time to be in India! https://t.co/s2ms87a4Vk
— Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) November 3, 2019
Disclaimer: I was a part of the problem today, flying into #Delhi but this is what landing looked like at 5.30 pm today #DelhiAir #DelhiAirEmergency #AirPollution pic.twitter.com/knxLJj0WwV
— Kabeer Sharma (@ka_beer) November 3, 2019
Learn the number system Delhiites #DelhiSmog #OddEven #DelhiAir
— nikhil_saikia (@nsaikia_51) November 4, 2019
Dad: When are you planning to marry?
Me: Maybe in a few years, if the #DelhiAir doesn't kill me.
~ Phone conversations with the family.— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) November 3, 2019
Others went on to remind the Environment Minister that there are more significant issues that we have to deal with.
Actually Sir, THIS is how my day started… my lungs don't have the capacity to even hum this scintillating composition!#DelhiAirEmergency#ChokingInDelhi@MRTB_India @CareForAirIndia @CBhattacharji @icareforlungs @ChintanIndia @Brikesh @SGanguly99 @bcci @ravinarajkohli pic.twitter.com/AEw8p7AnNq
— Amrita Bahl, Ed.D (@amritabahl) November 3, 2019
Sir..you are preaching music after putting the lives of millions in NCR at risk from pollution.
Kabhi to serious ho jaya karo Sir…#DelhiPollution #DelhiBachao #DelhiAirQuality
— Basant Patel (@BasantPatel56) November 3, 2019
Here is our environment minister. Capital has become gas chamber. People are expecting he would come with some action plans but he is suggesting songs.
— Minnat Ali مینت علی (@Minnatali10) November 3, 2019
Journalist Siobhan Heanue went on to share a screenshot of the results showed by an app that converts air quality to an equivalent number of cigarettes smoked. It showed how people breathing the Delhi air might as well smoke 33 cigarettes a day.
I use an app that converts the air quality to an equivalent number of cigarettes. Anyone in Delhi now might as well be smoking 33 cigarettes a day. Imagine knowing your children are smoking more than a pack a day. Cos here, they are. #DelhiAirEmergency pic.twitter.com/9aumGokBo0
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) November 3, 2019
The government has recently issued a list of do’s and don’ts for people living in Delhi to combat air pollution. We hope that more safety measures are taken and that this acts as a final wake up call for citizens to stop stubble burning and put an end to bursting firecrackers on Diwali. Stay safe, Delhiites.