'Enjoying In Indore As Delhi Chokes': AAP Tears Into Gautam Gambhir For Missing Air Pollution Meet

Reports suggest that cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, whose name was among the list of Lok Sabha members summoned for the meeting, skipped it as he is currently in Indore as a part of the commentary panel for the official broadcasters of the ongoing India vs Bangladesh Test match series.

Gambhir is currently in Indore as a commentator for the India vs Bangladesh cricket match. (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: A meeting of a parliamentary standing committee to discuss the rising levels of air pollution in the national capital was postponed on Friday as most participants, including Member of Parliament and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gautam Gambhir, did not turn up. As per reports, only four out of the over 30 invitees were present in the meeting. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) teared into the newly elected BJP MP from East Delhi and accused him of choosing “enjoyment” in Indore over a high-level meeting called to address the alarming rise in air pollution levels in the national capital. Reports suggest that cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, whose name was among the list of Lok Sabha members summoned for the meeting, skipped it as he is currently in Indore as a part of the commentary panel for the official broadcasters of the ongoing India vs Bangladesh Test match series. AAP’s allegations came after former cricketer VVS Laxman tweeted photos of Gambhir at a local eatery in Indore. "The agenda for Friday's meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee was circulated a week back, which clearly stated that the objective was to discuss air pollution in Delhi-NCR. However, East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir did not attend it," a tweet by Aam Aadmi Party said. "Delhi is choking and Gambhir is busy enjoying in Indore," AAP said. Key officials who skipped the meeting are the Environment Secretary, Forest Secretary, the Secretary dealing with climate change, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) representative, chiefs of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Instead of sitting in commentary box and enjoying...

We challenge @GautamGambhir to stop playing blame games over pollution and ATTEND MEETINGS ON AIR POLLUTION which he skipped Contempt of Court! Strict action should be taken against all absentees!#ShameOnGautamGambhir https://t.co/KrA6NtoOQH pic.twitter.com/dXOycuaYSP — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 15, 2019

According to reports, actor-politician Hema Malini, the BJP MP from Mathura, too gave the meeting a miss. The four MPs who attended the meeting were the BJP's Jagdambika Pal who heads the panel, Sanjay Singh of the AAP, Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference and CR Patil of the BJP. Commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation Varsha Joshi told IANS that she is in Lucknow attending a meeting on urban mobility scheduled months in advance, therefore, she could not attend the Delhi meeting. "The Urban Mobility Conference is organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which was planned months in advance," Joshi said. Following the incident, environment minister Prakash Javdekar said that he will investigate and take the necessary action. “I will find out the details and investigate. We are always very serious about pollution. I have emphasised that pollution is not only Delhi's problem. I have ordered a joint action plan. Teams are working with coordination,” Javadekar said while speaking to reporters. The meeting was scheduled for 11 am on Friday after the air quality in Delhi and nearby areas plunged to ''severe'' category. The national capital is battling alarming levels of air pollution for the past few weeks. The air quality further deteriorated in the last four days, forcing authorities to shut schools for two days.