On December 3, 2025, the INDIA bloc leaders, including prominent Congress MPs, staged a vocal protest outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar against the escalating air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR.
Carrying posters mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier comment, “Mausam ka maza lijiye” (“Enjoy the weather”), the MPs donned gas masks and held placards amid thick toxic smog, urging the government to treat air pollution as a national health emergency.
They demanded an urgent parliamentary debate and immediate action plans to control the hazardous pollution levels putting citizens’ health at grave risk, especially children and the elderly. Sonia Gandhi, leading the opposition charge, publicly urged the government to move beyond rhetoric and meaningfully address the crisis through enforceable policies and funding commitments.
Severe Air Quality Crisis Fuels Protest
The air quality index in Delhi-NCR has remained in the “severe” category for several days, with particulate matter levels reaching dangerous highs that pose serious health risks. Medical professionals warn of rising respiratory ailments, such as asthma and bronchitis, particularly among children and senior citizens.
The demonstration reflected these urgent concerns visually and vocally MPs were seen wearing N95 gas masks, carrying oxygen cylinders, and chanting slogans like “Discuss pollution now” and “We want clean air.”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra highlighted the protest’s non-political nature, framing it instead as a collective demand for government accountability and public health safety. She called the crisis “a matter of life and death,” urging the centre to implement immediate controls on vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and the yearly agrarian stubble burning that exacerbates the smog.
Other MPs echoed calls for declaring air pollution a national health emergency to trigger dedicated budget allocations for pollution monitoring and healthcare responses. They condemned the government’s previous approach of advisories and short-term measures as insufficient and urged for a legally binding, comprehensive national clean air mission.
Context and Escalating Political Pressure
The protest was not an isolated incident but part of mounting political pressure during Parliament’s ongoing Winter Session. It followed a series of events where worsening smog conditions saw public outcry escalate, including protests at the India Gate and Jantar Mantar.
The entire region’s air pollution results from a complex interplay of factors crop stubble burning in neighbouring states, unchecked vehicle emissions in Delhi-NCR, dust from construction activities, and insufficient regulatory enforcement.
The INDIA bloc’s protest underscored dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the issue. A key sticking point remains the government’s perceived failure to launch or adequately fund large-scale pollution control schemes. MPs demanded reinstatement and expansion of real-time pollution monitoring systems, stricter regulation on polluting activities, and enhanced public health infrastructure to mitigate pollution-induced illnesses.
The political standoff heightened tensions as opposition leaders framed pollution control as a fundamental governance test, while government representatives defended ongoing efforts citing technical challenges and climate factors.
This escalation spotlights a deeper struggle between political narratives and urgent environmental governance that directly impacts millions of urban and rural residents. It also reflects citizen frustration that has grown alongside scientific findings warning of Delhi’s smog crisis reaching chronic emergency levels with long-term implications not only for public health but for productivity and quality of life.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, the Delhi air pollution crisis is viewed as a critical issue demanding urgent, harmonious action transcending political divides. While protest and parliamentary debate are vital democratic tools to hold governments accountable, cleaner air cannot be achieved through blame games or slogans alone. It requires collaborative, science-based policymaking grounded in empathy for vulnerable populations most affected by pollution’s harsh realities.
The Logical Indian advocates for inclusive dialogue between policymakers, activists, healthcare professionals, and citizens to design and implement sustainable solutions prioritising air quality and health over partisan interests. Empathy, kindness, and coexistence should guide such collaborative efforts to secure a future where unbreathable air is a relic of the past, not a persistent challenge.
