NEW DELHI, Dec 12, 2025 — Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday raised alarm over the nation’s worsening air pollution situation in the Lok Sabha, appealing to the government to present a city-wise action plan to tackle the crisis effectively.
#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung disease. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to… pic.twitter.com/hBRzfOb0rB
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2025
Calls for Immediate Parliamentary Debate and Action Plan
During proceedings, Gandhi urged the Centre to hold a detailed parliamentary debate on the issue, stressing that air pollution particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other major cities has reached levels that pose a “health emergency.”
He highlighted people’s concerns, especially from mothers worried about the impact of toxic air on children’s health and said the government must move beyond excuses to develop concrete strategies for cleaner air across the country.
Demand for City-Wise Action Against Pollution
Rahul Gandhi specifically urged the government to present a city-wise action plan, where targeted and enforceable measures would be laid out for urban areas grappling with poor air quality. He emphasized that such a plan should address key sources of pollution and be backed by accountability mechanisms.
Criticism of Government Response
Gandhi questioned why the government has not shown visible urgency or accountability on air pollution, noting that residents across major cities are forced to inhale toxic air with severe health implications.
He also pointed out that discussions on mitigation should be substantive and solutions-oriented rather than political rhetoric.
Growing Concerns Over Urban Air Quality
The debate reflects broader concerns as air quality in several Indian cities, including Delhi-NCR, has repeatedly deteriorated into very poor to severe categories during the winter months, prompting public health warnings and calls for stronger pollution controls.