Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi voiced the distress of Delhi's elderly as she led a strong protest by party MPs inside Parliament on Thursday, targeting the government's perceived inaction on the capital's severe air pollution crisis.
Parliament Echoes with Slogans for Clean Air
The protest unfolded on December 4, 2025, with lawmakers carrying placards bearing messages like 'Delhi Deserves to Breathe' and 'Make Polluters Pay, Not Citizens'. The MPs raised slogans, directly accusing the Narendra Modi-led central government of failing to implement effective measures to control the toxic air quality.
Sonia Gandhi, a Member of Parliament herself, framed the issue as a personal hardship for vulnerable citizens. "Old people like me are finding it difficult," she stated, highlighting the acute health impact on seniors. The protest underscored a growing political confrontation over environmental governance.
A Direct Call for Concrete Action
The demonstrators presented a clear demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi: move beyond making statements and initiate tangible, decisive action. The protest signals mounting pressure on the government to address what has become an annual public health emergency in the National Capital Region.
The political move by the Congress party aims to hold the ruling administration accountable for the persistent pollution problem. By staging the protest within Parliament, the opposition ensured the issue remained at the forefront of the national political agenda.
The Broader Implications of the Protest
This incident highlights how environmental crises are increasingly becoming focal points for political accountability in India. The visual of senior politicians protesting with placards inside the hallowed halls of Parliament marks a significant escalation in the discourse surrounding Delhi's air pollution.
The call to "Make Polluters Pay" also shifts the debate towards economic accountability and policy enforcement, rather than placing the burden solely on citizens. As the winter smog season intensifies, such political actions are likely to influence public debate and demand more robust governmental response.
