New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday cited data from 2020 to claim that Diwali is not responsible for the Delhi AQI today, which has plunged into the 'severe' category in key areas.

Addressing a press conference, he blamed the erstwhile Arvind Kejriwal government, which had banned firecrackers in Delhi on Diwali.

"For 10 years, Arvind Kejriwal was the Chief Minister. Arvind Kejriwal first deliberately banned firecrackers in Delhi to garner the votes of a particular community, to appease them," he said.

Sirsa claimed that Diwali is not to be blamed for the Delhi AQI dipping, and accused the opposition of trying to please "some section".

"Let me tell you that those who are blaming Diwali for ...