‘AQI, AQI’ chorus as Delhi CM arrives for Messi event amid spike in air pollution

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Lionel Messi fans at Arun Jaitley Stadium chanted ‘AQI, AQI’ when Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta got on the stage. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)

Late Monday evening, just as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta entered the Arun Jaitley Stadium to share the stage with global football superstar Lionel Messi and be part of the last leg of the GOAT Tour, a new chant echoed around the arena. Braving thick smog throughout the day, thousands of fans had earlier given their hero a grand welcome with a deafening “Messi, Messi” roar. Now, shouts of “AQI, AQI” hit the hazardous air around the stadium.

Around that time, Delhi’s AQI (Air Quality Index) had zoomed to 325 as Monday marked the third consecutive day when the capital’s average index was reported in the ‘Severe’ category at 427. Just a day before, Delhi had recorded the most polluted day of the season with an average AQI of 461 — the second worst air day in December since 2015 when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) began AQI monitoring.

“I was there at the stadium this morning. The air was definitely not good… the impact of smog was visible even in video recordings on phone cameras. The stadium turned to chanting ‘AQI, AQI’ when the Delhi CM entered. It was an impromptu action, to be honest,” said Vibhor, a business professional who arrived at the stadium a couple of hours before the gates opened at 11 am.

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The foggy conditions also played a role in Messi’s charter flight to the capital getting delayed. Scheduled to land at 10.45 am, he touched down at 2.30 pm resulting in him reaching the venue at 4:30pm.

After interacting with young footballers from Chandigarh’s Minerva Academy, Messi kicked some footballs into the stands with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul by his side.

Later, Messi met the Delhi CM along with International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah, Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley.

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The “AQI, AQI” chants continued till Gupta was there at the stadium. On her way out, the Chief Minister was even booed.