Delhi’s pollution crisis is once again under the spotlight, drawing strong reactions from multiple quarters. When residents of the city took to the streets to protest, the Delhi Police used lathi charges to disperse the crowds, adding to public anger. The issue has also gained attention internationally, highlighting the severity of the city’s air quality.
Now, India’s chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi has joined the conversation, expressing concern on social media about the impact of pollution on his own health and that of Delhi’s residents.
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Recently, world number three and four-time World medallist Denmark's Anders Antonsen withdrew from the India Open Super 750 badminton event due to Delhi's pollution. This is the third year he has not come to play in India due to pollution. After this incident, discussions began on the global stage. Stars like PV Sindhu opposed his comments. Now the Indian Grandmaster has spoken out. This has sparked fresh controversy.
On social media, Vidit Gujrathi wrote, "We are slowly being poisoned and no one cares? Shouldn’t solving this be the top priority ?" Along with this, he shared a screenshot of Delhi's AQI, which showed Delhi's AQI at 598.
Netizens' reaction and political blame game
Vidit's post quickly went viral. One user on social media wrote, "Sad to say, even a few areas of Bangalore have over 200 in AQI" Another user wrote, "Delhi's AQI hitting 700+ Hazardous levels while breathing fresh air is basically a luxury vacation now...It's like the government ranked us #1 in the "World's Slowest & Most Expensive Suicide Method" contest...and we're still proudly taking gold every winter."
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Delhi’s pollution has become a battleground for political blame. From the Aam Aadmi Party to Congress, opposition parties are criticising the BJP government for failing to control pollution. In response, the BJP has pointed fingers at its political rivals, arguing that those who governed the city in the past also share responsibility. Amid this back-and-forth, ordinary residents are the ones facing the real impact, struggling with the city’s worsening air quality while political parties exchange accusations.
