“Look at China, how disgusting it is. Look at Russia, look at India, it’s dirty. The air is dirty, ”Trump said at the debate. Trump’s remarks come days before US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visit New Delhi to discuss building the growing US-India partnership.
In the first presidential debate, too, Trump had spoken critically of India, questioning its data on the coronavirus amid criticism for its handling of the pandemic. Social media was filled with reactions to what some called an “insult” to India, while others pointed to how Trump may be alienating the Indian-American vote through such comments.
However, many others called for introspection and action, saying that India’s air quality was among the poorest in the world. For many years, Delhi has become the most polluted capital in the world, while the Indo-Ganges plains are reportedly a region with the dirtiest air in the world.
The World Health Organization’s Air Quality Database (2018) found that the seven most polluted cities in the world in terms of annual PM2.5 levels were all in India, with Kanpur at No. 1 and Delhi at no. 5.
“Let’s stop being scrupulous about what @realDonaldTrump has said about dirt and dirty air in our country. Let’s not shoot the messenger again, but rather work to alter this message. And for the assholes now commenting on Trump’s visit to India, grow up! “Entrepreneur and actor Suhel Seth tweeted.
Let’s stop being squeamish about what @realDonaldTrump has said about dirt and dirty air in our country. Let’s not… https://t.co/Dl48sfWEwx
– SUHEL SETH (@Suhelseth) 1603451118000
Another tweet from Factchecker.in said: “He (Trump) is not wrong, considering that 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world are in India.”
On the other hand, Congressional politician Anand Sharma posted, “@realDonaldTrump has insulted #NamasteIndia and exposed their lack of knowledge about climate change and the Paris Agreement. A fact check would have told you that the US is the biggest polluter historically and that its per capita greenhouse gas emissions are 6 times #FilthyAir India. ”
President @realDonaldTrump has insulted #NamasteIndia and exposed his lack of knowledge about climate change and Par… https://t.co/0cq0t9bD2j
– Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) 1603462633000
Another high-ranking congressional politician gave Trump’s statement a major political twist. He tweeted, “Trump: Fruits of Friendship 1) Question the Covid death toll in India 2) Say India sends dirt into the air India ‘the air is disgusting’ 3) Call India ‘king of tariffs’. The result of ‘Howdy Modi’! “Howdy Modi was a mega event in the US attended by both Trump and Modi in September of last year.
Trump: Fruits of Friendship 1) Question India’s COVID death toll 2) Say India throws dirt into the air… https://t.co/oEz2vzcjUY
– Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) 1603423632000
Verified identifier user Arun Bothra brought a new angle to the controversy. “Some of us think that NRIs will get mad at Trump for calling air quality in India dirty. They have no idea how disparagingly NRIs talk about cleanliness in India, ”he tweeted.
Some of us think NRIs will be mad at Trump for calling air quality in India dirty. They have no idea h… https://t.co/Je29ftAXvZ
– Arun Bothra (@arunbothra) 1603432717000
Trump referred to India to defend his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, an environmental expert said. “Trump’s comment on Indian air in the context of his justification for withdrawing from the Paris pact is regrettable and youthful,” said Vimlendu Jha, founder of an activist group, Swechha.
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