Post-diwali pollution spikes in Delhi and political tensions rise in Uttar Pradesh

India Today

Key developments include hazardous post-Diwali pollution in Delhi, political tensions in Uttar Pradesh, and regional festive events.

Transcript

00:00The pollution, of course, already was there, but after a night of festivities, it has turned to more smog.

00:06Early this morning, toxic air was felt, witnessed and, of course, much worse,

00:10especially for the vulnerable people, not just in Delhi, but also NCR and other cities as well.

00:15The Festival of Lights may have concluded, but it's the aftermath that many are dealing with.

00:20And the scale of the pollution spike is alarming.

00:23I'm going to take you through different portals of data that's coming in, and let's go one by one.

00:28AQI.in, which is a private portal, the data there says Delhi's AQI stood at about 663 at 8 a

00:36.m. this morning.

00:37But the staggering peak was reported at 131 a.m., at 1,331 of AQI.

00:46There was clearly a hazardous mix of smoke, visibility took a hit across several areas as well,

00:51but because it possibly many have said that there was a wind, a cool breeze as well,

00:56that by late morning, that started to drift away.

01:00The CPCB's monitoring data painted a grim picture as well.

01:04At least 15 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded AQI levels that were clearly above 400.

01:09Capital City's overall AQI stood at 366 at about 6 a.m., which means very poor category when it comes

01:16to AQI.

01:18Remember, amid all of this, celebrations fair and square.

01:21But the fact is, definitely the use of firecrackers have added to already what was there as pollution under smog.

01:27And all of this is turning into a political blame game as well.

01:32Let's take a look at the special report.

01:34The Satellite

01:36The Satellite

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13:00I'm a member of 30 members of the MP. I'm a chairman of the chair.

13:05We've recommended that farmers have 500 rupees per quintal.

13:15The government has given the power of the waste to make the waste.

13:21Why do you do not?

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14:09।

14:29खाली के दिन शाम को बारा सो जगे पर पराली जलती है दस गुना कैसे बढ़ गया आकड़ा इसका मतलब

14:35है कि जो हमारे पास फोन आ रहे थे पंजाब से किसानों के की आग लगवाई जा रही है कोई

14:40आ रहा है और आग लगा के भाग रहा है और जब लोग पासान अपने घरो

14:56How did this happen in Punjab?

14:58This is a very unique tradition.

15:01And this is a tradition for farmers.

15:03This is a tradition for Diwali.

15:05This is a tradition for Delhi.

15:07This is a tradition for Punjab.

15:10So we decided to find out if there was a comparison between the two nights, eight and nine especially before

15:16and after the festival.

15:18Delhi residents on the morning of 9th of November this morning woke up to a thick blanket of smog,

15:23visibility had significantly reduced across Delhi.

15:26Pollution levels did soar after the celebration especially because of the firecrackers.

15:30Look at the images on your screen.

15:33October 30th and the 9th of November.

15:35The difference that two to three days and of course this is over a week now that did happen.

15:40Firecrackers were burst across several parts of the city,

15:44well beyond permitted hours, adding to an already worsened air quality.

15:48AQI in Delhi had slived into hazardous category, fresh concerns about the impact of post-festival pollution on public health.

15:56Look at these photographs.

15:57These are the landmarks of national capital Delhi.

16:00Whether it is the president's estate, central Delhi, this is south Delhi, other areas as well,

16:06toward the Humayi Storm about what the morning looked like compared to a week back on 30th October.

16:18So now we know that the pollution was higher.

16:21But how high was it?

16:22That is still not clear because there's a certain discrepancy that has come out in the data readings.

16:27And as our team was tracking through the night and early this morning,

16:30a high-tech digital display, look at that, outside the Indian Med Department,

16:35showed Delhi's AQI at 143.

16:39Now that, as you can see on your screen, but what about other control,

16:44the Pollution Control Board for example also, that is when we look at that data,

16:48that crossed about 400, between 300, 45 to 400.

16:52That was the number that had come on the screens.

16:56How can the margin be so much?

16:59And that is what has now raised a bigger question.

17:02Moderate category or is it severe category or is it hazardous as well?

17:06The difference of nearly 200 points does not make sense.

17:10The readings have left Delhi residents questioning the wide gap, the concerns over it as well.

17:14And what does one really believe then?

17:19The AQI is something that is being talked about today since yesterday was Diwali

17:23and it was expected that the AQI could increase by multiple folds.

17:27And since morning there has been a lot of confusion as to what is the exact data

17:31of the air quality index out here in the national capital.

17:34On one hand, where some opposition leaders have gone ahead and claimed on social media

17:38that the AQI had crossed 3000.

17:39On the other hand, the government data shows something absolutely else.

17:43This morning at approximately 5 am, the AQI of the national capital was around 366.

17:49But over here I am standing outside the Mossambhavan or the Indian Meteorological Department

17:55and this board that is stationed over here is actually managed by the Delhi Pollution Control Board.

17:59But over here you can see that the AQI says 143 which is moderate.

18:03And this is government data that has come to the fore.

18:05And it is absolutely shocking to note at this point in time that the AQI is being shown as 143

18:11in moderate category.

18:12On the other hand, if I could show you the official government data, this is of DPCC, Delhi Pollution Control

18:19Board,

18:20All India AQI Dashboard.

18:21We have selected the station that is IMD Lodi Road where the meteorological department is situated.

18:28And here the AQI shows 342 which is multiple times than what the AQI is being shown over here.

18:36The larger question that still remains as to what is the actual AQI,

18:40on whose data should the people believe because the AQI has definitely deteriorated.

18:46There are no two ways about it.

18:47The AQI over here states 143 which means that it is in the moderate category and thinning fog in patches.

18:55Which means there are patches of fog that has engulfed the national capital.

19:01So this is the data that is being shown over here.

19:03But the data that is being shared from the side of the Central Pollution Control Board,

19:08it clearly states that the AQI out here at Lodi Road is above 300, is around 342 which means that

19:16it is in the very poor category.

19:17So whose data is real, why the data that is outside one of the most important and prominent places

19:25when it comes to fighting pollution is actually somewhere or the other seems to be flushed.

19:29Because 143 AQI a day after Diwali almost seems to be a dream that could come true eventually or might

19:37not come true ever.

19:37With video journalist Logintar Pandey, this is Anshul Singh for India today.

19:41Well, let me not only bring you sad negative news when it comes to of course the reality of the

19:47festivities.

19:48It was after all the Diwali festival, it was celebrated not just in India but in our neighbourhood as well.

19:54So I have a special mention.

19:55Diwali celebrations lit up Karachi, Pakistan.

19:59Remember that the Hindu minority in Pakistan is below 3%, could be much lower.

20:05But this time coming out in the open, these Hindu worshippers gathering at the Shri Swaminarayan Temple to celebrate the

20:11festival of lights.

20:13The celebrations featured prayers, puja ceremonies, fireworks and colourful Rangoli decorations as well.

20:18Homes and temples of the Hindus were illuminated with lights.

20:21Courtyards adorned with intricate Rangoli patterns.

20:24Men, women, children participating in the festivities.

20:26Hindu priests seen playing the drum during the rituals.

20:30And remember at this point, the fact that the ancient festival as much of Pakistan, which was Swamili India,

20:37where the Hindu population lives in Sindh province.

20:40They continue to hold fort and the several temples in Karachi witnessed the Diwali celebrations.

21:09Let's start with Uttar Pradesh, one of the most important states when it comes to elections.

21:13The BJP and the Samaj Bhardai Party are trading charges already ahead of the political showdown.

21:18And the reason is, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has thrown down the gauntlet, demanding Akhilesh Yadav first apologize,

21:23before he decides to visit Ayodhya on the 12th of December.

21:27And that apology shouldn't just come for the devotees of Lord Ram, but also saints and sears.

21:32Akhilesh Yadav, though, has hit back.

21:33The SP chief is questioning why has Yogi Adityanath been silent on alleged Chandachori that happened,

21:41and saying also that nobody needs Chief Minister's political permission to visit Ayodhya,

21:47and that it's BJP basically fearful that because of his visit, the SP will get all the votes.

21:53The BJP, meanwhile, has dismissed Akhilesh's proposed visit as political theatre,

21:57questioning the sudden interest of Akhilesh Yadav and Lord Ram,

22:00insisting that Samaj Bhardai Party has no moral right to even offer prayers at the Ram temple.

22:05And, of course, he knows what he has said in the backdrop of when the Samaj Bhardai Party was in

22:11the government,

22:11and there was this whole fight and movement by the Karsavaks.

22:16BJP leaders are challenging Akhilesh Yadav to apologize before he visits Ayodhya.

22:23.

22:24Some people who were 6-7,

22:28they couldn't deny the truth of their sins.

22:33They couldn't deny the truth of the people,

22:36but they couldn't deny the truth of the people.

22:38But they couldn't deny the truth of the truth of the people.

22:42The first tweet that was written by the X,

22:45that Ahlash Yadav wrote,

22:47that this situation is going on.

22:49Go.

22:50They said that they have been leading in all these things.

22:53we will be able to do this

22:55and we will not let Ramji's loot here

22:59and now the 12 December

23:01is going to be the Ayodhya country

23:02for doing this

23:03in Ayodhya no one can come

23:05this is a country

23:08but here we have to come with a pure spirit

23:10I have also said

23:14yesterday

23:15that every name

23:16every spirit

23:17every work

23:17there are two things

23:29but

23:31if the society Party

23:33wants to move

23:33they should receive their

23:37their interviews

23:37ask them

23:40also ask them

24:09I need to ask you, I need to ask you.

24:33I need to ask you, I need to ask you.

24:41Yeah, Bahaar ki bivastar,

24:42Sardhalu janu ki suvidha

24:43Ko dhyan mein rakh karke

24:45Hum us mein saiyok keol us mein karte hai

24:47Or saiyok keliye

24:50Hemaree do pratenidhi

24:51Vohan per bhaag late hai

24:53Eek jilaadikari

24:53Or eek uttar-pradees ka

24:56Hemara joh grahe sachi hoota hai

24:59Jho eek suraksa ke mudde ko lhe kare

25:02Eek saiyok ke mudde ko lhe kare

25:03Keol vohan per support karta hai

25:05Saiyok karne keliye rata hai

25:07Lekin jayse yeh sushna ai

25:10Hum nne tostices sampar kiya

25:12Hum nne ka bhi

25:12Is maamlaya me

25:13Tadkal karwai aagye badhani chahiya

25:14Hum karwai karayenge

25:17Hum nne us karwai ko aagye badhaya

25:19F.I.R. lojj kiya

25:20Jho dosi thhe

25:22Uplabd saakse aur parman ke adhar par

25:25Unkei khlaap karwai ki

25:27Maamla supreme court mein pahuncha

25:29Manei ucchtitam niaile nne

25:31Aaj un saare maamlou ko

25:32Is baare mein kaha hai

25:33S.I.T. ki karwai

25:35Hum nne S.I.T. ghthit ki

25:37S.I.T. ghthit karne ke baad

25:39Hum nne ucchtitam niaile ko

25:41Sari chijayin uplabd karwai

25:44Ucchtitam niaile nne

25:45Is par karwai kiya

25:47Or mein dhanye bad dung ga

25:48S.I.R.A.M. janbhumi tir chetra trust ko

25:51Jinnohne jinn pe aagsep

25:53Aagsep lagay thay

25:54Unn loogun ko trust se baahar kiya

25:57Jinn

25:57S.I.T. ghthit

26:04S.I.T. ghthit

26:19Aagsep lagay thay

26:25Unn ke giraftariyan hui

26:27S.I.T. ghthit

26:37Aagsep lagay thay

26:39Aagsep lagay thay

26:56Tafsir

26:57S.I.R.A.M. jinnabhumi

26:58Aandulan ke sasat

26:59Jujhara raha hai

26:59Humari peat

27:00S.I.T. saew

27:01Parampara ki peat

27:02Lekin

27:04Bheshnao parampara

27:05Ke sasas

27:05S.O.R.E. once

27:06Ki

27:06Is razdhani ka

27:08Gaurav bahal ho

27:09S.Anatan ka

27:10Dhuja

27:11Ouncha raha

27:12Is ke liek

27:13Goraks peat

27:13Aandulan ke sasat

27:14Jujhari

27:15Mere dada guru

27:17Jujhari thay

27:17Mere pujy

27:18Gurdiyog

27:18Jujhari thay

27:19Or

27:20Mujhe

27:20Yer gaurav

27:21Prapta hai

27:21Khi

27:21Mere pundi

27:22S.I.R.A.M. jinnabhumi

27:25Raiyudhya

27:25Ke liek

27:25Kuch

27:26Karpara

27:26Mughi

27:27Khenji

27:27Jujhari

27:27Yad

27:28Nii

27:28Aya

27:29Khi

27:29Chanda

27:29Chori

27:30Ke

27:30Baad

27:30Kya

27:30Khaata

27:32Dhuudh

27:32Ka

27:32Dhuudh

27:33Pani

27:33Ka

27:33Pani

27:33Ka

27:33Kha

27:34Kha

27:35Bhuul

27:36Gai

27:37Jho

27:39Raman

27:39Mandir

27:39Ki

27:40Chori

27:40Me

27:40Shami

27:40Chori

27:42Chori

27:43Chori

27:52S.I.R.A.D.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I

27:54.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I

27:57.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I

28:00.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I

28:04.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I

28:08.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T.I.T

28:21Yeah, I don't think I think I'll just get here like a

28:31yeah

28:31good

28:31I'd be

28:38a

28:39I'm

28:40I'm

28:41I'm

28:43a

28:44tourist

28:45uh

28:46I'll

28:48I'll

28:49Apoor Utsa Ullas Umangh

28:56Dikhai Pada Tha

28:58To Apar Shaman Apar Shaman

29:08Ho Ga Swaagat Ho Ga

29:10The party of the party is either a god or a god or a god

29:15But in the country of the party, the party of the party

29:30The party of the party, the party of the party

29:35The party of the party

29:36The party of the party

29:37The party of the party

29:40My colleague Ashish Srivastava is joining me for the latest

29:42Ashish is Ayodhya now the new epicenter of political showdown

29:46Do you think this Brahm temple issue will become the big one?

30:18Yeah, of course, which we can understand that

30:19And Ayodhya visit

30:20So it is just most of the things which we can say

30:23That ahead of the 2027 election

30:25It is the most important for the Samajwadi party

30:28Because he just wanted to show

30:29Thank you Ashish

30:30The fact that Samajwadi party chief is finally visiting the Ram temple

30:34Ahead of the elections also, of course, speaks a lot about

30:37What he believes possibly could be associated with upcoming elections

30:41As people are clearly watching what is the strategy of Samajwadi party

30:44Meanwhile, at Panchayat Aajtak in Ayodhya,

30:48Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during this exclusive conversation with India Today Aajtak

30:52Spoke at length also about the SIR controversy

30:54What the opposition is saying about it

30:56The electoral losses that has come in for the opposition

30:59All that and more in this special conversation

31:33The goal of the O.K.

31:57The E.B.M.

31:58do si si hai pahli bar e bm ko do si theraya hai do siri bar SIR ko do si

32:06theraya Bihar

32:24I don't know what's going on.

32:38Thank you so much.

33:36How does the government do this?

33:38Jou s'maoq ko nukisan phooncuusan wala ho

33:40Rast ki chit i ka rn wala ho

33:41Rast ki ekta ko rast ki suraqsa me sand lagane wala ho

33:44Us ko ko kbhi svikar nahi karege

33:47Or isi lii

33:49Assi aur 20

33:50Is lii moi nha kaha

33:52Ki des ki major

33:53Pradaysi ki majoriti senghi aasi hai

33:56Jou suraqsa ke lii sushasan ke lii

33:58Sambridi ke lii puri tattapita ke saath

34:00Kari kar rhae hi hai

34:02Lekin ایک topka aisa bhi hai

34:04Jou suraqsa me sand lagane ke lii

34:06उपद्रों के मौकों को ढूंडता है और मुझे लगता है कि उस 20 को इसलिए हमने साइड में किया है

34:13कि नहीं वही तुम अगर इस एजेंडे के साथ जुड़ते हो जो सुरक्सा, संब्रिदी और सुसासन के लिए कारे कर

34:20रहा है तो अच्छी बात है लेकिन तुमने अगर भार

34:24भारत की परंपरा, भारत की मापुर्सों, भारत की तिर्थस्तलों, भारत की आस्ता को खिलवाड करने का प्रियास क्या, सनातन को

34:31अपमानित करने का प्रियास क्या, तो ये हमेश श्वीकारे नहीं और उन इस्तितियों में हम आपके साथ किसी भी प्रकार

34:37से खड़े नहीं ह

34:38can be

34:41chinted

34:42but

34:45that

34:4680

34:4720

34:48people

34:48who

34:49be

34:50a

34:51a

35:19and the voters who will be the

35:21uh

35:22uh

35:23uh

35:24uh

35:25uh

35:26bjp

35:27and

35:27nda

35:28uh

35:31uh

35:32uh

35:33uh

35:36uh

35:37uh

35:52news coming in from the border state of Punjab the PCS paper leak issue has now turned controversial as well

35:58and knocked the doors of the Home Minister Amit Shah

36:01students have approached Home Minister Amit Shah via Rajya Sabha MP from BJP Tarun Chogh

36:05they are demanding immediate resignation of the PPSC chairperson, immediate removal and rotation of examination secretary,

36:12disclosure of complete tenure record, complete reconduct of the mains paper of the PPSC

36:18and uh

36:19this is uh

36:20the high court monitoring is what they are demanding as well

36:22so are we going to witness a repeat

36:24remember whether it was about the NET examination

36:27then the Jharkhand state entrance examinations as well

36:29and now the PCS which is the Punjab State Civil Services examination as well

36:35has now come under the spotlight

36:37with students who are demanding a complete re-examination of PPSC

36:42I want to immediately go across to Aseem Bassi

36:44Aseem so tell me more about how big this issue is in the state and now reaching the door of

36:48Home Minister

36:50well there is one public uh

36:51Punjab Public Service Commission which conducts the examination of the PCS Punjab Service Services

36:55and uh as soon as the world of PCS mains came few days back

36:59uh next day only uh certain students came up and they started questioning the evaluation

37:03we spoke to certain students as well and they said they were not happy with the evaluation system

37:08they said that uh we want a re-evaluation and also a CBI probe and the entire this

37:13uh although they didn't say that they are selling any scam in this

37:16but they said that the way the result has come

37:18there is a pattern that certain students sitting in a sequence have passed in various centres

37:23uh the students who were say seating in a regular role numbers regular seating in a sequence were passed

37:30so they question this and the overall broad picture is they are questioning the evaluation process

37:35they're demanding re-evaluation and a CBI probe into this entire examination which has been conducted

37:40all right thank you very much for now Aseem Bassi with all the latest about now

37:45is the next big movement going to be in the body state of Punjab

37:59how to do cinema celebrities celebrate the festival of Diwali from Vicky Kaushal Katrina Kaif to Priyanka Chopra

38:06and others as well throughout the film industry even Kareena Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra

38:10several south stars also joined in with their heartfelt greetings and wishes take a look

38:25from family moments to festive greetings celebrities made Diwali 2026 extra special

38:33taking to their social media handles several actors shared moments from their celebrations and extended warm wishes to their fans

38:44Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal made this Diwali particularly special for their fans

38:49the couple shared the first ever glimpse of their son Vihan giving everyone a precious peek into their little world

39:03Meanwhile Rinbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt stepped out of their Mumbai residence to greet fans on Diwali

39:09Accompanied by Neetu Kapoor, the couple posed for the cameras, waved to the gathered crowd

39:15wishing everyone a happy Diwali

39:27Amitabh Bachchan continued his beloved Diwali tradition of meeting fans outside his Mumbai residence

39:40Meanwhile Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a glimpse of her Diwali celebrations straight from L.A.

39:48The actress posted a series of pictures featuring her husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Mary Chopra Jonas

39:56capturing some precious family moments

40:00Well, family was also at the centre of Kareena Kapoor Khan's celebrations

40:06She shared pictures with her parents Randeer Kapoor and Babita Kapoor and sister Karisma Kapoor

40:14Siddharat Malhotra on the other hand kept his festive greetings sweet and simple

40:22Moving to the south film industry, Telugu superstar Ram Charan extended warm festive wishes to his fans

40:29Superstar Rajnikand also met hundreds of fans gathered outside his residence to celebrate the occasion

40:38Interestingly, Allu Arjun shows a traditional greeting sharing a picture of Goddess Lakshmi and wishing everyone on the auspicious festival

40:46Junior NTR Mohan Lal, Karam Johar, Anushka Sharma and several other celebrities also joined in sharing their Diwali wishes with

40:56fans

40:58From a special glimpse of a little one to star-studded family gatherings and fan interactions

41:05Diwali 2026 brought plenty of memorable moments

41:10Entertainment Bureau, India Today

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