Category: News

On Thursday morning, people in Delhi and nearby places like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram woke up to very thick fog. The cold weather is making it feel even chillier outside. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was at a worrying level of 448 around 6 am, which is close to the “severe-plus” category. Out of 37 monitoring stations in Delhi, 21 of them showed AQI levels that were even worse.

In Ghaziabad, the AQI was 381, while Noida and Gurugram had AQI levels of 364 and 376, respectively. These numbers mean that the air quality is very poor and not safe for most people.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that foggy weather will continue in Delhi for another day or two due to weather changes. As a result, the temperature in the city dropped to 5 degrees Celsius early on Thursday. Last Tuesday, it was a bit warmer at 7.4 degrees Celsius.

Cold Wave Warnings in North India

In Himachal Pradesh, a cold wave is affecting the area. The local meteorological office warned that temperatures are dropping, especially in some districts. Places like Tabo reported a freezing minus 7.4 degrees Celsius. There are orange and yellow warnings for the cold wave in different parts of the state.

In Karnataka, cold wave conditions are also predicted for districts like Bidar, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi, where temperatures are expected to be 2-4 degrees below average. Fog may be seen in some areas until December 20.

Kashmir’s Intense Cold

In Kashmir, it has gotten slightly warmer, with Srinagar’s temperature rising to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, but it is still freezing. Cold weather has caused some lakes, including the famous Dal Lake, to freeze over, and many water supply lines are also frozen. The ski resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded lows around minus 5 to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court warned the Punjab government that if anything happens to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the entire state would be held responsible. Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for 23 days, and the court called for special measures to ensure his health and safety, including hospital care.

A panel of justices, Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized that the court’s job is to make sure the farmers’ concerns are heard loud and clear by everyone involved. Justice Kant reminded the Punjab government’s attorney, Gurminder Singh, that they need to take extra steps to protect Dallewal’s health, and that serious situations need serious actions.

The court plans to review the situation again on Thursday at 2 PM. Earlier, the court had ordered the Punjab government to engage with farmers and ensure Dallewal’s well-being, promoting peaceful protests grounded in “Gandhian principles.” They also set up a high-level panel to help address farmers’ issues, including demands for legal guarantees for minimum support price (MSP).

Justice Kant stressed that Dallewal, a prominent figure, needs to stay healthy to represent the farmers’ cause effectively. Although his vital signs are stable, Dallewal refuses medical checks and hospital admission, preferring to continue his protest.

Justice Kant stated the government must protect Dallewal since it is their duty. He urged the Punjab AG to act quickly for Dallewal’s safety. The bench highlighted the importance of saving Dallewal’s life and reminded that the Supreme Court is open for farmers to voice their demands.

Dallewal started his hunger strike on November 26 as part of a larger movement seeking to legalize MSP and push for broader agricultural reforms. Farmers, organized under different groups, have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border since February, blocking major roads and causing disruptions.

Dallewal argues that MSP is critical for farmers’ survival and even wrote to Prime Minister Modi to stress its importance for rural livelihoods. A Supreme Court-appointed committee is mediating between farmers and the government, working to address key issues affecting agriculture, such as rising debt and climate challenges.

In New Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Atishi, criticizing her government for not sharing important reports. These reports are done by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and should have been presented in the assembly.

Saxena claims the government has ignored its duty to show 14 such reports over the last two years. He noted that normally, assemblies meet at least three times a year, but the Delhi government has only met five times in the last five years, which he called “very unusual.”

The LG mentioned that the assembly’s last meeting was cut short on December 4 but hasn’t been formally ended yet. He urged Atishi, as the leader, to hold a special assembly session on December 19 or 20 to discuss these reports, especially since elections for a new assembly are coming up.

Currently, there’s a lawsuit because the opposition BJP wants the government to present these reports and has warned they will go back to court if not done within 48 hours. Saxena also shared that he has repeatedly reminded Atishi and her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, about the importance of these reports. He expressed disappointment that a government that promised transparency is not following through on sharing its findings, which is crucial for the people.