Congress Criticizes Government's Stance on Air Pollution Data

Congress has accused the government of lying about the lack of conclusive data linking air pollution to health issues. Minister Anupriya Patel's statement in Rajya Sabha has been challenged by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who cited a Lancet study indicating that 7.2% of deaths in India are due to air pollution.

On Tuesday, the Congress labeled as a ''shocking lie'' the government's claim in the Rajya Sabha that no conclusive data exists to establish a direct correlation between death or disease and air pollution in the country.

The opposition was responding to Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel's statement in the House. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh reacted on social media, calling Patel's assertion false and citing a recently published Lancet study that estimated 7.2% of all deaths in India were linked to air pollution.

Ramesh criticized the government's mishandling of the National Clean Air Program and accused the ruling party of spreading misinformation. Patel, in her written statement, acknowledged that air pollution contributes to respiratory ailments and other diseases but highlighted steps like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Swachh Bharat's clean air initiatives as measures to combat the issue.