Should it even remain nation’s capital? Shashi Tharoor as Delhi pollution worsens

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday raised doubts about Delhi’s suitability as India’s national capital, citing its worsening air pollution crisis.
Tharoor, in a post on X highlighted Delhi’s hazardous air quality, stating that it is nearly five times worse than the second-most polluted city, Dhaka. He described the situation as “unconscionable” and criticised the government for failing to address the issue despite years of worsening conditions.
“Our government has been witnessing this nightmare for years and does nothing about it,” he wrote. Tharoor also mentioned his past efforts, including running an Air Quality Round Table with experts and stakeholders since 2015, which he abandoned last year due to a lack of progress.
The MP called Delhi “uninhabitable” for three months from November to January and “barely livable” for the rest.
“Should it even remain the nation’s capital?” he questioned.

This is not the first time Tharoor has taken a swipe at Delhi’s air quality. Earlier this month, when the air quality index (AQI) reached a staggering 462, he shared satirical signboards renaming iconic Delhi locations as “Pollutyens’ Delhi,” “Haze Khas,” “Dhua Kuan,” and “Chandni Choke.”
Taking another jab, Tharoor remarked, “No wonder the government renamed the main road the ‘Martavya Path!’”
Delhi’s pollution levels have sparked widespread concern, with the city often recording some of the worst air quality in the world during the winter months.
The Supreme Court on Monday sharply criticised the Delhi government and the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for their delay in enforcing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as air quality in the national capital reached the ‘severe plus’ category. The court ordered that Stage 4 restrictions under GRAP will remain in effect until further notice.
All this happened at a time when Delhi has recorded the worst air quality of the season at 493 on Monday. The authorities in Delhi-NCR have declared the schools will conduct online classes for all students from Tuesday.