Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Faces 'AQI' Chants at Messi Event; Opposition Condemns Government Over Smog

New Delhi, December 15, 2025 – Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was met with "AQI, AQI" chants from a section of the crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, where she was present to welcome football icon Lionel Messi. The incident occurred against the backdrop of hazardous air quality levels in the capital, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching "severe" levels for the third consecutive day.

The city's AQI touched 498 in the morning before settling at 427 in the evening, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). An AQI between 401 and 500 is considered "hazardous," posing a serious health risk to residents, especially children and the elderly. Real-time data indicated that major air pollutants included PM2.5 at 401.27 µg/M³ and PM10 at 328.82 µg/M³.

A video capturing the "AQI" chants directed at CM Gupta quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP leaders have accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Delhi of inaction and indifference towards the worsening air pollution crisis.

"International Shame, Crowd for Messi shouts 'AQI, AQI' as soon as Delhi CM Rekha Gupta arrives," posted AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on X (formerly Twitter), while sharing the viral video. Bharadwaj also stated, "In a country where everyone is talking about pollution, the prime minister is just silent on the issue".

The opposition party has alleged that the current pollution levels are a result of "governance lapses" and that the situation persists despite the end of the stubble-burning season. AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj noted that pollution remains severe even indoors, despite the absence of stubble burning.

CM Gupta, in response to the criticism, stated that her government is making all efforts to curb pollution and blamed previous AAP and Congress governments for neglecting the issue. "I want to ask those protesting at India Gate: The problem of air pollution is not new and has been around for years. Where were your protests before? What did the previous government do?" Gupta said. She further added, "There is a backlog of 27 years. The government needs at least 27 months to fix things".

Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor attributed the spike in pollution to a western disturbance causing stagnation of air movement across North India and urged opposition leaders to stop "negative political rhetoric".

The CPCB reported that 27 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded "severe" air quality on Monday, with Wazirpur registering the worst AQI at 475. The hazardous air quality has disrupted daily life, reducing visibility and raising health concerns for residents and visitors. Many residents are taking precautions such as wearing masks during commutes.

The incident at the Messi event underscores the growing public frustration over Delhi's persistent air pollution problem and the perceived lack of effective action from the government. The blame game between political parties continues as the city grapples with the health and environmental consequences of severe smog.