India, Oct. 22 -- The government is ready to carry out cloud seeding, but is waiting for suitable weather, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday, speaking at a press conference a day after Diwali.

"Cloud seeding happens only when there are clouds. First comes the 'cloud', then the 'seeding'. Without clouds, cloud seeding is scientifically impossible. People should understand science before making political statements."

The minister was responding to criticisms from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj for not having conducted cloud seeding yet. On Tuesday, Delhi was blanketed in a toxic haze, with the air quality index (AQI) staying in the 'very poor' category.

Last week, Sirsa h...