Delhi faces return of poor air
Delhi’s air quality is likely to deteriorate to the poor category from Wednesday and remain there until October 23, according to the air quality early warning system. The forecast also indicates poor air quality over the subsequent six days as the winter pollution season approaches. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 179 in the moderate category on Tuesday. If the forecast holds, Wednesday will mark Delhi’s first poor air quality day in 100 days. The last such day was July 13, when the AQI stood at 246. The system said unfavourable meteorological conditions, including a ventilation index below 6,000 square metres per second and average wind speeds below 10 kmph, could hinder pollutant dispersion. Meanwhile, Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius, 0.8 degrees below normal, and a minimum of 17.7 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees below normal. Palam recorded a high of 29.3 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road registered 31.4 degrees Celsius.
The Ridge and Ayanagar recorded maximum temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius each. No rainfall was recorded at any of the five weather stations between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Thackeray Targets BJP at Dussehra Rally
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday called for a change of Government at the Centre, promising acche din (good days) after dislodging the BJP-led Government. Addressing the party's annual Dussehra rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, Thackeray said the Opposition was standing up to bring about "regime change". He also defended youth protests, asserting that young people taking to the streets were revolutionaries fighting for their rights, not Naxalites. Thackeray alleged that vote chori (vote theft) was affecting people, particularly first-time voters, and said protesting was a legitimate right. The rally marked the 60th anniversary of the Shiv Sena's Dussehra gathering at Shivaji Park. The party's founder, Bal Thackeray, addressed the first rally at the venue in 1966. Taking aim at the BJP, his former ally, Thackeray sought to distinguish his party's Hindutva from that of the ruling party. He criticised those who, he alleged, invoked Hindutva while harassing women, accusing the BJP of tarnishing the ideology. "We have to unfurl Bhagwa (saffron flag) not only atop Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha, but also on Lal Qila (Red Fort in Delhi)," he said.
Thackeray also accused the BJP of attempting to divide people by separating colours from the national tricolour.