News
Delhi Police Detain Dozens During Rare Anti-Pollution Protest at India Gate Amid Toxic Air Crisis
Delhi Police detained several demonstrators at India Gate during a rare protest demanding urgent action against the capital’s worsening air pollution. The protest comes as the city’s Air Quality Index hit 345 — “very poor” — while opposition leaders condemned the crackdown on peaceful protesters.
New Delhi | November 10 —
Police in New Delhi detained dozens of demonstrators during a rare protest at the iconic India Gate on Sunday, where citizens demanded immediate government action to curb the capital’s worsening toxic air crisis.
Protesters of all ages carried banners and shouted slogans calling for clean air before being removed by police. Such spontaneous demonstrations are uncommon in Delhi, even though the city and its surrounding region struggle with severe air pollution every winter.
Wearing a face mask, protester Neha said, “We have only one demand — clean air.” Speaking to news agency ANI, in which Reuters holds a minority stake, she added, “This problem has persisted for years, but no real action has been taken.”
Footage from the scene showed police dragging away several protesters holding signs that read “Breathing is killing us” and “Clean air is our right.” Others were seen boarding waiting buses as police dispersed the crowd.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 345 on Monday — classified as “very poor.” The AQI scale ranges from 0–50 as “good” to 401–500 as “severe.”
Police told reporters that demonstrators were asked to leave because India Gate is not a designated protest site, while opposition leaders criticized the authorities for forcibly removing citizens engaged in peaceful protest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“The right to clean air is a basic human right. The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution. Why are citizens demanding clean air being treated like criminals?”
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government is taking steps to combat pollution.
In a statement on X from the Delhi BJP, he added, “We remain committed to doing everything possible to rid the city of pollution. It’s our government’s firm resolve.”
The Delhi region, governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, often remains shrouded in dense smog during winter as cold, heavy air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke, leading to widespread respiratory illnesses.
Authorities had attempted cloud seeding last month to induce artificial rainfall and reduce pollution levels, but the effort failed.
