The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to a viral video targeting Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during an event welcoming Argentinian football star Lionel Messi to the city. The original clip appeared to show Gupta being greeted with chants of "AQI, AQI" by the crowd, a pointed reference to Delhi's severe air pollution levels.

The incident occurred on Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, as Gupta took the stage to welcome Messi during the final leg of his GOAT India Tour. Delhi's air quality was in the "severe" zone for the third consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 498 in the morning before settling at 427 by evening. The thick smog reduced visibility across the city.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swiftly shared the video, with AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj calling it an "international shame" on social media platform X. The AAP criticized the BJP governments at the Centre and in Delhi for their alleged inaction regarding the toxic air quality affecting Delhi-NCR and North India. Bharadwaj also stated that the Prime Minister remained silent on the issue, despite widespread concern about pollution.

In response, the BJP released a counter video, claiming it to be the "real video" from the event. This clip purportedly shows the crowd chanting "Messi, Messi" as the Chief Minister felicitated the footballer. The BJP accused the AAP of circulating a false video to disparage the BJP. They further stated that the AAP leaders were disheartened by the people's excitement.

A video war has erupted between the BJP and AAP as pollution in Delhi becomes a political flashpoint. The BJP has been in power in Delhi since February. A BJP leader apologized for the pollution, blaming the AAP for the situation and claiming they are working to fix it. The AAP countered by sharing a BJP post from March 2025, where the party claimed Delhiites were breathing clean air for the first time in three years.

The event itself was not without controversy. Some fans who paid ₹6,000 for seats complained about the filthy conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Despite these issues, the atmosphere improved when Messi, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, appeared. The crowd chanted "Messi, Messi," and the players interacted with fans, including young players from the Minerva Academy. The event concluded with ICC chairperson Jay Shah honoring Messi, Suarez, and De Paul with custom India jerseys, a signed cricket bat, and an invitation to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

While Messi's appearance brought excitement to Delhi, the "AQI, AQI" chants underscored the public's growing frustration with the city's persistent air quality crisis. The incident has turned a celebratory sporting moment into a reminder of Delhi's ongoing environmental challenges.