New Delhi : The BJP and Shiv Sena on Monday criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his description of Diwali as ‘Khushiyon ka Eid’ (Eid of Happiness) and accused the Congress of displaying anti-Hindu mindset and indulging in vote-bank politics. The leaders said that the Congress should be ashamed of making such remarks on an auspicious occasion like Diwali, alleging that instead of respecting Hindu sentiments, the party was attempting to appease a particular community for political gains. The controversy erupted following Kharge’s remarks to reporters over the weekend while extending Diwali greetings.

“I extend my best wishes to everyone for Diwali. Many people celebrate it as it is Khushiyon ka Eid,” the Congress president said. Kharge also appealed to people to maintain peace and national unity, urging those involved in disputes or harbouring misunderstandings to set aside their differences. “I urge those who may be in conflict or harbouring misunderstandings with one another to set these differences aside,” he said.

Speaking to Media, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said Kharge’s remarks exposed the Congress party’s anti-Hindu mindset. “Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement exposes the Congress party’s anti-Hindu mindset. The Congress should be ashamed that even on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, instead of respecting Hindu sentiments, it is engaging in vote-bank politics. Remember that just a few days ago, Sonia Gandhi said she was deeply pained and shed tears when the Babri Masjid was demolished. She also cried over the Batla House encounter involving terrorists. Now, the party’s president is describing Diwali as the ‘Eid of Happiness’. This makes it clear that the Congress party is engaged in appeasement and vote-bank politics 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” he said. BJP MLA Ram Kadam also questioned the Congress over the remark, alleging that the party was using religious references to appease voters.

“They pretend to wear the sacred thread. And when it is time for our Diwali celebrations, instead of extending Diwali greetings, they turn even this festival into an issue of religious appeasement. This is our question,” he said. Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande also criticised Kharge, accusing the Congress of making contradictory political statements in an attempt to appease different communities. “I feel sorry for their lack of understanding. They are so afraid and so desperate to appease Muslims that tomorrow they might even call Diwali Eid. They are so scared because they have lost their political ground. Neither Hindus nor Muslims are going to vote for them. In an attempt to please one community or the other, they try to appear secular at times and claim to stand for Hindutva at other times. They have become confused,” she said.

New Delhi : Delhi witnessed a sharp deterioration in air quality on Monday, a day after Diwali celebrations, with pollution levels reaching the ‘Severe’ category in several localities, according to monitoring data. A dense blanket of smog covered several parts of the national Capital in the morning hours, considerably reducing visibility. The situation was particularly noticeable around Inderlok and other residential areas. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 376, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer application. However, several monitoring stations registered considerably higher pollution levels. Sonia Vihar topped the list with an AQI of 449, followed by Burari Crossing at 445 and Vivek Vihar at 441, as per a Pollution Dashboard.

Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 439, while Delhi University’s North Campus registered 437 and Rohini 435. Other locations reporting ‘Severe’ air quality included DTU (431), Bawana (424), Chandni Chowk and Patparganj (418 each), Mundka (413), NIH Narela and Punjabi Bagh (408 each), and the Commonwealth Sports Complex and ITO (404 each). The post-Diwali pollution situation has once again brought the effectiveness of measures to curb firecracker emissions into question. Despite restrictions and directions issued by the Supreme Court, firecrackers continued to be burst in several parts of Delhi beyond the permitted hours. The situation has also drawn attention to the functioning of agencies responsible for monitoring air quality. According to an NDTV report, pollution levels in several neighbourhoods had climbed significantly above prescribed limits on Diwali night.

R.K. Puram and Nehru Nagar, near Lajpat Nagar, were among the worst-affected locations until 9 p.m. The real-time monitoring system initially reflected a steep upward movement in pollution levels. However, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) website reportedly stopped displaying live readings from several monitoring stations for a few hours. The affected locations included R.K. Puram, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Sonia Vihar and Dwarka, raising concerns over the availability of monitoring data during the peak pollution period. Separately, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that a campaign was being run from the latter’s residence to malign the festival of Deepavali under the guise of concerns over pollution. Official figures also indicated that pollution levels in certain parts of Delhi exceeded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended limits by more than 50 times after residents continued bursting firecrackers beyond the Supreme Court’s 10 p.m. deadline.

Chennai : As many as 679 people sustained injuries in firecracker-related accidents across Tamil Nadu during Deepavali celebrations on Sunday, with 110 victims still undergoing treatment in hospitals, according to figures released by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department on Monday. Despite widespread rainfall in several parts of the state, Diwali was celebrated with considerable enthusiasm as people dressed in new clothes, exchanged greetings, and burst firecrackers with family members. However, celebrations were marred by several fire accidents and injuries, prompting emergency calls to fire and rescue personnel across the state.

According to the Fire and Rescue Services Department, its control room received 91 emergency calls between Sunday morning and 9 p.m. Of these, 54 calls were directly related to accidents caused by firecrackers, while the remaining 37 concerned other fire incidents reported from different locations. Officials said a total of 679 people, including men, women and children, received medical attention following firecracker-related accidents and burn injuries during the festivities. Of the total injured, 569 people were treated at hospitals and subsequently discharged after receiving the necessary medical care. Those discharged included 329 men, 42 women and 198 children. A substantial number of minors were among those affected by the accidents.

Meanwhile, 110 people who suffered burn injuries while bursting firecrackers continued to undergo treatment at various hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The patients remaining under medical supervision included 86 men, nine women and 15 children. The figures highlight the risks associated with handling firecrackers, particularly during large-scale celebrations involving children and families. Fire and rescue personnel remained on alert throughout the festival to respond to emergencies and prevent incidents from escalating into major accidents. Hospitals across the state had also made arrangements to provide immediate treatment to people suffering from burns and other injuries during the celebrations.

The number of emergency calls and hospital admissions underscores the importance of following safety precautions while bursting firecrackers. Although the festival was celebrated enthusiastically despite unfavourable weather conditions, the injuries reported across Tamil Nadu once again brought attention to public safety concerns associated with Deepavali celebrations. The authorities have not provided details regarding the severity of injuries among those still hospitalised.