Post Messi Visit, Delhi Govt Moves Its Narrative On AQI And Apologises

Delhi BJP leaders had mixed feelings when in February 2025 PM Modi zeroed in on a first term MLA from Shalimar Bagh, Rekha Gupta, as Delhi CM – over looking at claims of more worthy CM hopefuls. It was felt perhaps Modi was scripting a different kind of BJP administration for the national capital. Not the sort that Delhi has seen in the 90s either under Madanlal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma or Sushma Swaraj. Ten months later with Delhi and the National Capital Region battling a toxic AQI has Rekha Gupta’s elevation helped? Apparently not. The incumbent CM who has risen from the ranks — from a combative councillor to CM is increasingly proving to be a disappointment, say BJP sources. It is isn’t just her attempt to oversimplify toxic AQI of Delhi with her remarks like “AQI is a temperature that can be measured with any instrument”. Such inane remarks have so embarrassed everyone in the Delhi BJP that party leaders simply retreated into a shell. After all, no one could be seen contradicting her. What saved Delhi was Lionel Messi’s visit. It wasn’t until the football star reached Arun Jaitley Stadium CM Gupta was greeted with “AQI, AQI” chants that her Govt was forced to speak up and of course swing into action. Her environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa finally issued a public apology while asserting that ‘it is impossible for any government to clean up the entire pollution in 9-10 months’. Meanwhile it is being said Rekha Gupta functions a lot like women sarpanches — who authorise their husbands to act on their behalf. Delhi CM’s husband is reportedly present at official meetings. Not so much to influence her decisions but probably to enable her decisions.