Rahul Gandhi Calls North India Air Pollution a National Emergency, Urges Collective Action

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday described the worsening air pollution in North India as a national emergency demanding urgent and coordinated action rather than political blame games.

North India AQI Crisis

Sharing a video of his discussion with environmentalist Vimlendu Jha on X, Gandhi said, “Air pollution in North India is a public health crisis that is stealing our children’s future and suffocating the elderly, and an environmental and economic disaster ruining countless lives.”

Cities across the north, including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, have been battling severe air pollution for weeks. Gandhi highlighted that the poor suffer the most, unable to escape the toxic air, while the pollution also impacts tourism and tarnishes India’s global reputation.

“…Families are gasping for clean air, children are falling sick, and millions of lives are being cut short. Tourism is declining and our global reputation is crumbling,” he said.

Gandhi emphasized that the pollution cloud spans hundreds of kilometres and cleaning it will require major reforms and decisive action from governments, companies, experts, and citizens alike. “We need a collective national response, not political blame games,” he added.

With the Winter Session of Parliament approaching, Gandhi warned MPs will be reminded of the crisis by their irritated eyes and sore throats. He called for united parliamentary discussions on how India can tackle the pollution emergency effectively.

Delhi’s Air Quality SituationDelhi has recorded severe air quality since November 16, continuing for five consecutive days, with the average AQI hitting 396 (very poor) on November 15. Authorities have implemented Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including bans on construction and demolition, school closures, and strict vehicular regulations. Similar pollution spikes were recorded in November 2020 and December 2021, while the longest severe streak of seven days occurred in November 2016 and 2017.

Gandhi concluded by urging all stakeholders to act decisively and end this crisis for the health and future of the nation.