After Diwali, the air quality across Delhi has deteriorated. On a peaceful Sunday afternoon, citizens of Delhi gathered at India Gate, demanding to give them the basic right to breathe clean air. People are urging the government to take strict action to mitigate the “air emergency” in the capital. Mothers brought their children with nebulisers and medical prescriptions, highlighting the consequences of the extreme crisis that is choking the city.
Images were circulated across social media showing how police are taking people into police buses. The police said that the protestors were advised to shift their crowd to Jantar Mantar, which is designated for public protests. According to reports in 2023, over 17,000 people died due to air pollution in the country’s capital. The incident has sparked a wider debate over citizens’ rights and government accountability, with opposition leaders urging immediate action rather than detentions.
