Trump's statement came as the national capital's air quality index surged above 300 on a scale of 500, 12 times higher than WHO safe limits.
According to environmental experts, Trump referred to India to defend his decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord, Vimlendu Jha, the founder of an activist group, Swechha, told Reuters.
Trump’s statement was backed by Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra, who is in the opposition in the national capital, Delhi. Mishra took to Twitter and said that Trump is right, as ‘our air quality is actually filthy. In Delhi, we are breathing poison. Time for all of us to come together and deal with the real reasons.’ Mishra’s statement came as a jibe towards the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. Mishra was previously a member of AAP.
Trump’s statement came as the air pollution in New Delhi and surrounding cities are worst in eight months, with the air quality index surging above 300 on a scale of 500, indicating “emergency conditions,” as many people complain of difficulty in breathing. The pollution level is 12 times higher than the World Health Organization's safe limits.
His remarks drew both anger and introspection, with some asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action.
In a 2017 interview with Reuters, Trump complained that China, India, Russia, and other countries were paying too little to help poorer countries battle climate change under the Paris accord’s Green Climate Fund.
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