NEW DELHI: A crucial parliamentary panel meeting called to discuss the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour on Friday as only four of 29 MPs turned up for it. The absentees included East Delhi MP and former cricket star

.

It was also claimed that senior officials of the ministry of forests and environment (MoEF) failed to show up. But the MoEF spokesperson later said the joint secretary was required to be in Supreme Court where a case relating to Delhi pollution was being heard, and that a deputy secretary and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) officials, apart from two joint secretaries from the urban affairs ministry, had come for the meeting.

However, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice-chairman Tarun Kapoor and the commissioners of the three municipal corporations, Varsha Joshi, Gyanesh Bharti and Dilraj Kaur, did not turn up.

Within hours, the no-show by MPs and other agencies kicked off a huge political row and outrage on social media.

(AAP), whose

MP Sanjay Singh turned up for the meeting, lashed out at Gambhir for skipping it. Gambhir, who was on a cricket commentary assignment in Indore, sought to defend himself, saying his work in his constituency will speak for itself.

The political slugfest intensified after former cricketer V V S Laxman posted a photograph of Gambhir having sweets (jalebi) with him on his Twitter account.

“Instead of sitting in commentary box and enjoying... 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,” AAP tweeted.

Gambhir responded by saying, “Instead of patting each others’ backs and gearing up for elections by playing with the lives of citizens, I challenge CM @ArvindKejriwal to tell Delhiites what his Govt has done to fight pollution for the past 4.5 years?”

While some MPs told TOI that the meeting was scheduled at short notice, AAP spokesperson Nagendra Sharma tweeted a letter dated November 8 that said it was scheduled for November 15. The notice said, “Briefing by representatives of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on role of municipal corporations of Delhi, DDA, NDMC, CPWD and NBCC in reducing air pollution in Delhi and local municipal corporation in NCR.”

The parliamentary committee, headed by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, took strong objection to the absence of officials, and sources said the issue will be taken up with the Lok Sabha Speaker. “How could the meeting be held if officers called to give their response did not turn up?” said one of the MPs who had turned up for the meet.

The four MPs who attended the meeting were Pal, Sanjay Singh, Hasnain Masoodi of National Conference and C R Patil of BJP. Some MPs who were not present told TOI they had pre-scheduled appointments while others questioned the timing of the meeting just two days ahead of the Winter Session. They claimed the meeting could have been scheduled next week when the MPs would be in Delhi.

Some government officials said that they were stumped to see the absence of several officers and panel members as well.

Later, Union environment minister

told reporters, “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 a joint action plan. Teams are working with coordination.”