New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday condemned the detention of citizens protesting against Delhi’s worsening air quality, accusing the government of treating peaceful demonstrators like “criminals”.
The protest, held at India Gate, saw scores of parents, environmental activists, and children demanding urgent action on air pollution. Many were reportedly detained by police for assembling without prior permission.
Gandhi responded to the incident on X, citing a post by environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, who claimed protesters were “taken away” and “shoved in a bus”. Gandhi wrote, “The right to clean air is a basic human right. The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution. Why are citizens who have been peacefully demanding clean air being treated like criminals?”
He further criticised the government’s inaction, stating that air pollution is affecting crores of Indians, harming children and the future of the nation. “We need to take decisive action on air pollution right now instead of attacking citizens asking for clean air.”
The Leader of Opposition also accused the ruling party of indifference, saying the government, which came to power through “vote chori”, is neither concerned about the crisis nor attempting to resolve it.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Devesh Kumar Mahla, confirmed the detentions were preventive, adding, “Only Jantar Mantar is designated as a protest site where permission can be sought by following due procedure.”
The incident has sparked fresh debate over the right to protest and the government’s handling of environmental concerns amid rising pollution levels in the capital.