Who Is Running Delhi? When the Air Itself Smells of Anarchy

Ten months after the BJP ousted the AAP from Delhi, and two years after it took over the MCD, the national capital no longer just burns throats—it is choking lives amid a vacuum of accountability.

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, December 23, 2025 — Severe eye irritation attacks in Delhi is now common. The youngsters now watch YouTube videos to know tricks against hair falls. The people are defiant. They press ahead with life, braving smog and smoke, for livelihoods and safeguard means of living.

In an age of shifting attention span, the people find guarding several flanks. A few shows of anger at India Gate went unnoticed against extreme poor air quality crisis in the national capital region of Delhi. Soon, they were faced with the challenge to save the Aravalli—from the Supreme Court’s classification, and the mafia.

Farmhouses dot the foothills of the Aravalli—from Haryana to Rajasthan. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is seeking to prove that critics are “misinformed.” Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused Yadav of “misleading the people.”

In Delhi, the Opposition leader Saurabh Bhardwaj in a series of videos seems to have knocked away the nonchalance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the city Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Having faced ridicule at the Arun Jaitely stadium, Gupta is roasted by the Opposition for her clueless administration.

If the BJP begins telling works done by Gupta, one should know that Gupta is now vulnerable. The BJP leaders are sharing a long list of steps taken by Gupta-led BJP administration in Delhi to tackle air pollution.

But the people only recall a failed bid to artificially rain in the national capital. No other deed of Gupta against air pollution can easily be recalled. Garbage mountains still stand.

Anti-fogging machines cannot be seen. Civic bodies also seem to have given up on sprinkling water in air. Heavily dust-laden tree leaves bear testimony of the civic apathy.

As the people battle extreme poor air crisis for months, which took grim proportions after the Supreme Court greenlit with firecrackers verdict by buying the “child in us” argument of the solicitor general of India.

The administration seems to have left the people to the mercy of destiny. The BJP had accused Arvind Kejriwal of condemning Delhi to perennial bouts of cough.

Ten months after the BJP ousted the AAP from Delhi, and two years after the saffron outfit grabbed power in the MCD, the national capital not just burns throats but life. The excuse is gone. Delhi pays silently a heavy price of anarchy—an administration with no clues to tackle the challenge.

(This is an opinion piece. Views are personal)

Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Save

About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

See author's posts