New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: A high level parliamentary meeting to discuss the alarming levels of air pollution in Delhi was cancelled after several of the MPs, who were supposed to attend it, skipped it.
Cricketer-turned politician Gautam Gambhir, whose name was among the Lok Sabha members summoned for the meeting, also skipped the meeting as he is currently on a leisure trip to Indore.
As soon as this was out that Gambhi too skipped the meeting, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked the former cricketer and asked him to stop playing ‘blame games’.
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“Instead of sitting in commentary box and enjoying...We challenge Gautam Gambhir to stop playing blame games over pollution and ATTEND MEETINGS ON AIR POLLUTION which he skipped. Contempt of Court! Strict action should be taken against all absentees!,” said AAP in a tweet.
Instead of sitting in commentary box and enjoying...
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 15, 2019
We challenge @GautamGambhir to stop playing blame games over pollution and ATTEND MEETINGS ON AIR POLLUTION which he skipped
Contempt of Court! Strict action should be taken against all absentees!#ShameOnGautamGambhir https://t.co/KrA6NtoOQH pic.twitter.com/dXOycuaYSP
The AAP’s allegations came after cricketer VVS Laxman tweeted photos of Gambhir at a local eatery in Indore.
Meanwhile, #ShameOnGautamGambhir also started trending on Twitter.
In which subject gautam ji is gambhir, see in below image.#ShameOnGautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/DjML9kcAcf
— Salamuddin Ansari (@salamuddinansa5) November 15, 2019
Missing from Standing Committee and eating Jalebi ? #ShameOnGautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/kiBqGDHTTp
— Augustine Varkey (@logicalindianz) November 15, 2019
Pic 1: Gautam gambhir on odd days.
— Thanos ji (@__MunnaJi) November 15, 2019
Pic 2: Gautam gambhir on even days. #ShameOnGautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/l4zX2kGuIU
Does Delhi deserve such MPs who are busy with Jalebi Poha while missing crucial Parliamentary Committee Meeting on Pollution in Delhi NCR ?#ShameOnGautamGambhir https://t.co/e2zIS86Dsp
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) November 15, 2019
The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee had to be cancelled at the last minute as most of the officials summoned did not turn up.
Three commissioners of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and secretary/joint secretary of the Ministry of Environment did not attend the meeting. Many DDA officials also did not turn for the meeting.
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A total of 21 Lok Sabha members and eight Rajya Sabha members were asked to attend the meet of which only four -- chairperson Jagdambika Pal, Hasnain Masoodi, CR Patil and Sanjay Singh -- turned up.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that he will investigate the matter.
“You have told me about this. I will find out the details and investigate. We are always very serious about pollution. I have emphasised that pollution is not only Delhi's problem. I have ordered joint action plan. Teams are working with coordination,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)