'Modiji, India's kids struggling to breathe...; Rahul Gandhi seeks urgent debate as Delhi battles severe air pollution crisis
PTC Web Desk: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday called for an immediate and extensive debate in Parliament on the escalating air pollution crisis in the national capital, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining “silence” on what he described as a nationwide health emergency.
Rahul Gandhi, who met a group of mothers concerned about their children’s deteriorating health due to toxic air, shared a video of the interaction on social media. He said every parent he speaks with expresses fear and frustration as their children are forced to grow up inhaling hazardous pollutants.
In a sharp post on X, the Leader of the Opposition questioned the government’s “lack of urgency and accountability”, saying, “Modi ji, the children of India are struggling to breathe. How can you remain silent? Where is the action plan? Where is the responsibility?”
He urged the Centre to implement a strict and enforceable strategy to combat air pollution, stressing that the country can no longer afford delays or temporary measures. “India needs a comprehensive parliamentary discussion and a concrete action plan to address this health emergency. Our children deserve clean air, not excuses,” he added.
Delhi has been reeling under extremely poor air quality for over two weeks, with pollution levels repeatedly pushing the city into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. Forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System indicate that the situation is expected to remain grim through the coming week.
Health professionals have raised alarms, warning that prolonged exposure to polluted air can cause serious complications, especially among children, asthma patients, smokers and people with heart or respiratory ailments. Doctors have advised regular check-ups, noting that toxic air can inflame airways, impair lung function and worsen existing diseases.
- With inputs from agencies
