Rahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over ‘Toxic Air Crisis’, Demands Urgent Parliament Debate on Air Pollution

The Congress leader sharply criticized PM Modi’s “silence” over the “hazardous” air quality, calling the crisis a health emergency for children.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday sharply criticized the central government for the rapidly deteriorating air quality across the country, particularly in North Indian cities where pollution levels have repeatedly hit “hazardous” ranges. Gandhi declared the situation a “health emergency” and demanded an immediate, strict, and enforceable national action plan to combat the crisis.

In a strongly worded social media post, the Congress MP highlighted the widespread fear among parents, stating that “every mother” he meets shares the same concern: her child is “growing up breathing toxic air.” He accused families of being “exhausted, scared and angry” as the crisis worsens annually with no clear intervention from the government.

Gandhi directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence, asking, “India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” He firmly asserted that clean air is the basic right of every child and that the issue can no longer be met with “excuses and distractions.”

To address the severe crisis, Gandhi urged the government to immediately convene a detailed debate on air pollution in Parliament and implement a stringent national action plan. His critique, which included an eight-minute video discussion with several mothers, comes as air quality indices, especially in the Delhi-NCR region, continue to prompt health warnings and widespread public concern.