As air pollution continues to worsen across North India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, labeling it as a “national emergency.” In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi highlighted the severe impact of the toxic air, particularly in cities like Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. The pollution has resulted in a significant public health crisis, affecting children, the elderly, and the poor, he said.
Gandhi highlighted that families struggle for clean air as children fall ill and millions of lives are cut short. He also expressed concerns about the decline in tourism and India’s diminishing global reputation. The Congress leader called for a collective national response to address the issue instead of continuing political blame games.
“This is an environmental and economic disaster that is stealing our children’s future and suffocating the elderly,” Gandhi wrote, sharing a video of his interaction with environmentalist Vimlendu Jha. He emphasized that the scale of the problem necessitates decisive action from all sectors—governments, companies, experts, and citizens alike.
The air quality in Delhi and its neighboring regions has been in the “severe” category for several weeks. On November 16, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hit a dangerous 396, marking five consecutive days of hazardous air quality. The authorities have implemented Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including school closures, bans on construction activities, and strict vehicular controls to mitigate the impact.
As Parliament prepares for its Winter Session, Gandhi urged lawmakers to acknowledge the ongoing crisis and work towards a sustainable solution. “It is our responsibility to come together and discuss how India can end this crisis once and for all,” he said.
