New Delhi: Delhi’s choking air turned into a public outcry on Sunday as hundreds of residents — from schoolchildren to senior citizens — gathered near India Gate, demanding urgent government action on the city’s worsening air quality.

Holding placards that read “Smog se Azadi!” and “Breathing is killing me”, protesters called the capital’s pollution crisis a “public health emergency” and accused authorities of inaction and data manipulation.

“This is not about politics, this is about survival,” said a protester, one of many who joined the gathering despite heavy police presence. “Trial-and-error has failed our children. We need a clean-air policy, not another blame game.”

Several demonstrators criticised the government’s repeated targeting of Punjab farmers while overlooking structural solutions. “Every winter, they blame someone new,” said a Delhi University student. “Why not fund clean alternatives instead of finger-pointing?”

Many of the protesters accused the authorities of manipulating air quality readings to downplay the crisis. 

 

“I’ve seen videos of water being sprayed near AQI monitors when pollution spikes. Are they fixing air or fixing numbers?” asked Prerna Mehra, one of the participants.

Environmental activist Jyothsna Singh said the poor suffer the most from emissions and policy failures.

“Street vendors and auto drivers breathe the worst air caused by the city’s own vehicles. Without a 50% public transport modal share like Beijing’s, there’s no roadmap to clean air,” she told reporters.

Health professionals at the protest warned of irreversible consequences. “Every third child in Delhi already has damaged lungs,” said a doctor in attendance.

“Long-term exposure affects the heart, brain, and even pregnancies. It’s a multi-generational tragedy — and it’s preventable.” As the demonstration gained momentum, police and paramilitary forces in riot gear moved in.

Despite remaining peaceful, several protesters, including children, were detained under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagar Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which prohibits public gatherings near India Gate. DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla described the detentions as “preventive measures.”

Environmentalists and activists criticised the crackdown. “Private monitors show AQI crossing 999 at several spots, yet people demanding clean air are detained,” said Vimlendu Jha. “This isn’t an agitation for power — it’s a fight for breath.”

Civil society leaders leading the protest, including Bhavreen Kandhari, said their request for an appointment with the Chief Minister had been ignored. “Parents, doctors, and students came together because children are suffering. This is about clean air, not politics,” she said.

While Delhi Police justified the action citing law and order concerns, political parties traded blame later in the day. AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the Centre of manipulating pollution data, while BJP’s Manjinder Sirsa said Delhi’s toxic air was the result of AAP’s decade-long misgovernance.

For many at India Gate, however, the message was simple — “Hawa sarkari nahi, sabka hai.”