Carry onion in pocket instead of using ACs to fight heat: BJP minister

New Delhi: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has triggered debate with an unusual suggestion to tackle extreme summer heat, advising people to carry an onion in their pocket as protection against heatwaves, even as large parts of India reel under rising temperatures.

The remarks were made at a public meeting in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, where the minister claimed that traditional practices could help individuals cope with extreme heat. He positioned the advice as part of older, indigenous knowledge systems, contrasting it with modern reliance on air conditioning. The suggestion, however, comes at a time when scientific and medical guidance emphasises hydration, shade and reduced exposure as primary safeguards against heat-related illnesses.

Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he does not use air conditioning in his car or spend time in air-conditioned environments, adding that people often ask how he manages to cope with temperatures as high as 51 degrees Celsius during May and June. He stated that he attributes this ability to what he described as having “Madhya Pradesh Chambal skin.”

He further remarked that although he may appear young, he believes his soul is much older, and suggested that carrying an onion in one’s pocket during the hot season would prevent harm from extreme heat. He contrasted this with what he described as modern dependence on air conditioners, saying that while many rely on such devices, he follows older practices, which he linked to traditional knowledge systems like Ayurveda.

He also advised that covering the head with a scarf, chanting the name of God and keeping an onion in one’s pocket could help individuals endure temperatures rising up to 52 degrees Celsius in June without difficulty.

The comments have drawn attention because they come amid worsening heatwave conditions across northwestern and central India. The India Meteorological Department has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to persist in isolated regions over the next few days, with temperatures in many areas already ranging between 40 and 46 degrees Celsius.