‘Ameeron Ka Chonchla’: Yoga Guru Ramdev Dismisses Air Purifiers As Delhi Chokes On Severe AQI

Amid hazardous air quality gripping the national capital, yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday dismissed the use of air purifiers, calling them “ameeron ka chonchla”- a fad of the rich’, even as Delhi continues to reel under ‘severe’ pollution levels.

Yoga guru Ramdev has suggested some exercise and curtains as ways to fight air pollution in Delhi and other parts of northern India in particular.

While speaking at a TV channel’s special show on setting the country’s agenda, Ramdev suggested yoga exercise to fight diseases in general. The Aaj Tak anchor asked him how one could exercise outdoors when the pollution is so high.

“Look, when a country is progressing, naturally some dust will fly,” he first said, speaking in Hindi.

When asked about the National Capital

Region’s persistent, annual problem of air pollution, Ramdev said, “Yes, Delhi sometimes becomes like a gas chamber. Then, you people should put up curtains in your homes.”

He built on the curtain argument: “Put some curtains in the house, dust them off a little after 15-20 days while wearing a mask.”

“Sit inside and do (breathing exercises). Take long, long breaths, do Kapalbhati,” he added. Asked about air purifiers, he said that’s just a fad, or extravagance, for rich people.

Delhi-NCR’s AQI Remains In ‘Severe’ Category

A thick layer of smog blanketed Delhi-NCR on Sunday morning, severely reducing visibility and causing discomfort to commuters. The air quality index of New Delhi was recorded at 462, categorised as ‘severe’, at 6 am, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

All 40 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi turned ‘red’, indicating ‘severe’ air quality index (AQI). Rohini in northwest Delhi recorded the worst air with an AQI of 499, followed closely by Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar, where the AQI stood at 495.