A war of words erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP over cloud seeding trials, with AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claiming that all engines of the Delhi government have failed.
Hitting back at the former Chief Minister, the BJP said he sold “false dreams” of making the city like London and Paris.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the cloud-seeding trials in the national capital were successful and slammed the opposition AAP, saying they are “jealous” of the success of the BJP-led government.
In a post on X, Kejriwal took potshots at the BJP over a report on cloud seeding in Delhi to check air pollution, saying its government in the national capital has completely failed.
After a gap of 53 years, cloud seeding trials were conducted by the BJP government in Delhi on Tuesday to induce artificial rain in the city. However, the weather department did not record any traces of rainfall in the city. The Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, conducted the trials in parts of Delhi, including Burari, north Karol Bagh, and Mayur Vihar, with more such exercises planned over the next few days.
Quoting a media report which said that conditions were not conducive for cloud seeding, Kejriwal said, “Actually, all the engines of this government have failed. This government itself has completely failed.” The AAP questioned the Delhi government’s cloud-seeding exercise, saying no rainfall was recorded despite claims of artificial rain and raising doubts over the feasibility of such experiments in the national capital.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “For the past few days, it was said that cloud seeding had been done in various areas of Delhi, but there was no rain anywhere.” He also referred to previous statements made in Parliament, where three central government institutions had reportedly said cloud seeding was not suitable for Delhi due to meteorological and chemical factors. “When these agencies had already stated that cloud seeding cannot be done in Delhi, what was the need for such an exercise now?” Bharadwaj asked, alleging that public money was being spent on what he called a “publicity-driven activity.”
Hitting back, the BJP replied on X, calling him “Sharab Ke Thekedar and Jamanati” referring to the alleged liquor scam under previous AAP government in Delhi and subsequent arrest of Kejriwal in connection with it. The AAP chief is currently out on bail in a case related to the alleged scam.
The BJP alleged that Kejriwal was now offering his “wisdom” although for 11 years he “looted” Delhi by selling “false dreams” of making the city like London and Paris, all the while enjoying luxuries at his “Sheesh Mahal”.
Hitting back, Sirsa said AAP failed to conduct cloud seeding trial during their 10-year tenure and the party was “jealous” of the achievements of the Rekha Gupta government.
“AAP will obviously raise questions. They were unsuccessful in the last 10 years and ruined Delhi. Now Chhath is being celebrated on the banks of the Yamuna. The river is cleaner. Green crackers were allowed and still the pollution levels are in control. How can they tolerate this?” he asked.
Questioning AAP, he said that a day after Diwali, they were saying why cloud seeding is not being carried out and now when it was done, they are again levelling allegations.
Talking about the trials, Sirsa said that the previous government tried to conduct the exercise but they were unsuccessful. “We reached a stage where we could conduct the exercise. Nine to 10 trials will be conducted and then we will get to know at what moisture content rain can be induced. Once IIT-Kanpur have concrete information on the moisture content needed to induce rain, we will be able to utilise it to have artificial rain in Delhi when needed,” he said.
Explaining the cost incurred, Sirsa said that Rs 20-25 lakh is spent during one trial and only after nine to 10 such trials, the government will get to know how much rainfall can happen after the exercise.
Delhi was “ruined” during the “inaction” of AAP in the last 11 years, while the BJP government is now working 24 hours to make it a developed city, said the ruling party.
