Tughlaqi order: AAP after BJP halts fuel ban on old vehicles in Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday accused the Delhi Government of orchestrating a “Tughlaqi” ban on old vehicles to benefit automobile companies, calling the now-withdrawn fuel supply restriction a “corruption conspiracy” that deserved a full investigation.

Addressing a press conference after the Delhi government formally stepped back from its plan to stop refuelling petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj called the rollback a “victory of Delhi residents and a responsible opposition.”

“The ban was never about pollution, it was a well-planned move to force people to buy new vehicles, enriching auto companies and dealers,” Bharadwaj alleged.

Bharadwaj presented a detailed timeline to counter the BJP’s claim that the ban was mandated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court. He pointed out that the original court orders date back to 2015, when the AAP was already in power, yet “no such draconian ban was ever imposed.”

He read excerpts from BJP Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), in which Sirsa blamed “technical glitches” and a lack of readiness for the sudden reversal. “But the truth is, Sirsa himself had announced the fuel cutoff on 1 March—long before the CAQM issued its directions on 23 April,” Bharadwaj said, accusing the BJP of misleading the public.

“This proves that the BJP-led Delhi government conspired with CAQM, a body under the central government. This was nothing less than a ‘Tughlaqi’ order imposed jointly by the Delhi Government and the Central Government-backed CAQM,” he charged.

Further, taking a swipe at sections of the media, Bharadwaj criticised a leading English daily for claiming both BJP and AAP opposed the fuel ban. “If BJP really opposed the ban, did Virendra Sachdeva ever write a letter?” he asked, warning that the AAP would approach the Press Council of India against “misleading coverage.”

Reiterating AAP’s stand, Bharadwaj said, “Delhiites fought this battle on the streets and online. The BJP has been forced to back down under public pressure. But this entire policy reeks of corruption and collusion. The role of the CAQM must be investigated thoroughly.”

Delhi