The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tore into the BJP government for orchestrating a massive fraud in the name of cloud seeding in Delhi. Senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha said the BJP’s “loot-driven regime” had misled Delhiites while wasting ₹3.5 crore of public money on a project that never produced a drop of rain.
The AAP MLA pointed out that even the BJP-ruled Central Government’s own agencies—Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and Central Air Quality Management (CAQM)—had clearly stated that artificial rainfall was not feasible in Delhi. He charged that by ignoring scientific opinion, the BJP government’s real motive behind the so-called cloud seeding was to divert public attention and siphon off funds.
In a video message on Wednesday, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha said, “Today I initially thought Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had successfully conducted cloud seeding and that it had started raining. But when I stepped out with an umbrella, I realised it was just water from the roof being washed off and falling to the ground. Manjinder Singh Sirsa had loudly boasted that cloud seeding would bring rain. I was in Burari and thought it was raining, but it turned out the roof was being cleaned.”
The AAP MLA further said, “The government had announced four days ago that cloud seeding would take place on October 29 and that some parts of Delhi would receive rainfall. However, when it drizzled slightly on October 27 evening, the government began hoping it could take credit. Initially, the exercise was to be limited to Burari, but the area was then expanded to Trilokpuri, Karol Bagh, and Narela—so that if it rained anywhere, the BJP could claim success. But in reality, it didn’t rain anywhere in Delhi.”
Sanjeev Jha pointed out that in December 2024, three Central Government agencies—CPCB, IMD, and CAQM—had already stated that artificial rain could not be carried out in Delhi. “They had provided scientific reasons and also warned that the chemicals used in such experiments were harmful to health. Then why was the BJP government beating drums about cloud seeding for days? The entire Cabinet and Chief Minister kept boasting that they had held meetings and completed all preparations, but they completely ignored the scientific advice of the Centre’s own agencies,” he said.
“This clearly shows that the BJP government had no intention of fighting pollution. If that were the case, it would have considered the scientific report first. The intent was only to distract the public and loot funds. Nearly ₹3.5 crore was spent on this sham operation,” Sanjeev Jha stated.
He further reminded the BJP government of its unfulfilled poll promises: “The BJP had promised to install over 1,000 anti-smog guns that used to operate regularly during the AAP government, to purchase thousands of water sprinkling machines, and over 100 mechanical sweeping machines to clean roads throughout the year. It has now been nine months of BJP rule in Delhi, but the tender for anti-smog guns has only just opened, and not one is in operation. Under the AAP government, such work would begin as early as October. Today, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is hovering around 350.”
Sanjeev Jha lambasted the government’s misplaced priorities, saying, “If ₹3.5 crore were genuinely meant for pollution control, that money could have been used to plant thousands of trees—each costing ₹1,200–₹1,500 with a three-year maintenance plan. The same funds could have purchased 500–800 biofuel converters for factories or been used for other sustainable measures. But that wasn’t done, because either this government is a team of fools ruining Delhi with its stupidity, or it’s a gang of looters siphoning public funds while deceiving citizens.”
“The AAP will not let this continue. The people of Delhi have sent us to the Assembly to expose this corrupt BJP government. This is taxpayers’ hard-earned money, not anyone’s personal property to be squandered at whim,” declared the AAP’s Chief Whip in the Delhi Assembly.
He also exposed the government’s neglect during Delhi’s pollution crisis. “Three ministers from the BJP government’s Cabinet are busy campaigning in the Bihar elections. CM Rekha Gupta herself is not in Delhi. BJP has assigned Minister Ashish Sood of a responsibility of an assembly constituency in Bihar. Minister Pankaj Singh, who handles the Transport Department, is also away. Except for Manjinder Singh Sirsa, all other ministers are in Bihar,” Sanjeev Jha said.
“While Delhi is choking, struggling to breathe, the Environment Minister is busy spreading lies and wasting crores of rupees from the taxpayers’ pockets on fake publicity. This shows how serious the BJP government truly is about Delhi’s public issues,” he concluded.
