Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today appealed to Delhi residents to avoid bursting firecrackers this Diwali in view of rising air pollution and asked them to join him and his ministers instead in a ''Laxmi Pujan'' programme to be organised by the AAP government on the day of the festival on November 14.
Addressing an online media briefing, Mr Kejriwal said he along with his cabinet ministers will perform ''Lakshmi Puja'' at 7.39 pm at some place and urged Delhiiites to join them from their homes by watching it on television.
"Last year, we celebrated Diwali together as the Delhi government organised a mega light and sound show at Connaught Place. This time also Delhi's two crore people will celebrate together. On Diwali, November 14 from 7:39 pm onwards the 2 crore people of Delhi will do Lakshmi puja together. I, along with my ministers, will start the Lakshmi puja at the time which will be telecasted live by some channels. I urge all people of Delhi to turn on your televisions and sit down with your family to conduct Lakshmi Pujan," Mr Kejriwal, who claimed a third wave of coronavirus is now sweeping the national capital, said while appealing to people to avoid bursting firecrackers this Diwali.
The chief minister said that at present, Delhi has been facing two issues - the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising air pollution - adding that the AAP government is making all efforts to deal with the situation.
"The COVID-19 situation is deteriorating in Delhi due to rising air pollution. If we burst firecrackers on this Diwali, we are playing with the lives of our children and families...," he said.
The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution rose to 42 per cent on Thursday, the maximum so far this season, according to a central government air quality monitoring agency.
Experts said raging farm fires and a fall in the wind speed and temperatures pushed air quality in Delhi-NCR to the worst levels in around a year on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the national capital saw yet another record single-day jump in COVID-19 cases with over 6,800 confirmed infections. The city has been witnessing a fresh surge in coronavirus cases over the last few days, with a total of over 6,600 deaths recorded till now.
With inputs from ANI and PTI
On Kedarnath Temple Replica In Delhi, Its Builder Gets Lawsuit Threat "Back To Square One": Arvind Kejriwal Wants Interim Bail, Slams CBI Arrest Delhi Doctors Report Rise In Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease In Children Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai BJP Subtly Asking Ajit Pawar To Quit "Mahayuti": Sharad Pawar's NCP Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged Russia Says It's Ready To Work With Any US Leader 3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.