As Delhiites continue to face weeks of toxic air quality, scores of people gathered at the iconic India Gate on Sunday evening to stage a protest against the government’s handling of the crisis. The demonstration, attended by social activists, parents, and citizens, was met with high police deployment, resulting in the detention of dozens of protesters.
Police officials stated that the detentions were necessary because the gathering had taken place without prior permission and was blocking Mansingh Road. Videos widely shared on social media showed police officers bundling people into vehicles while protesters claimed they had been threatened with First Information Reports (FIRs).
Scene at India Gate: Gas Masks and Constitutional Rights
Protesters, many of whom were wearing gas masks and carrying children, thronged the India Gate circle. Many citizens held copies of the Constitution, symbolizing the “right to clean air” as a fundamental human right.
One viral video from the demonstration highlighted the emotional core of the protest. An exchange captured a man holding his child questioning a police officer about detaining a minor, to which the officer retorted: “Bache ko protest mein leke aaoge aap?” (Will you bring kids to the protest?). A voice from the crowd immediately responded: “bacche saans nahi lete kya” (Do kids not breathe?)—a poignant commentary on the air quality crisis.
DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla confirmed that approximately 60 to 80 people were detained, primarily targeting those “blocking the Mansingh Road”. Police cited security and traffic reasons, stating that permission for the protest in front of India Gate had been denied a day earlier, and protesters were asked to move to Jantar Mantar.
Political Blame Game
The detentions quickly drew reactions from politicians and civil society members, igniting a political row:
- Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa (BJP-Led Government): Sirsa slammed the opposition, stating the previous AAP-led government had “made the air poisonous continuously for 10 years.” He defended the current seven-month-old Rekha Gupta-led government by listing mitigation efforts like anti-smog guns, water sprinklers, and construction monitoring, but admitted, “the damage of 10 years cannot be corrected in just 7 months.”
- Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi: Gandhi strongly criticized the Centre for treating peaceful demonstrators as criminals, asserting that the “right to clean air” is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution. He accused the BJP of apathy toward the crisis and urged immediate, decisive action.
- AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj: Bharadwaj, identified by police as leading the Mansingh Road protest, argued that there is a “trust deficit” among the people. He accused government agencies of fudging data and manipulating figures, which he said was alarming the intellectual community and forcing well-educated citizens onto the streets.
Protesters’ Demands and Pain
Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari, who joined the protest, expressed the deep concern of parents and alleged that their request to meet Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was refused.
Kandhari pointed out that essential measures under the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) have not been fully implemented despite the AQI touching severe and hazardous levels. She noted the distress among citizens: “Many people here are holding inhalers and nebulizers, showing prescriptions. These are our emotions, our pain.”
Citizens present demanded a permanent fix, with one telling media that the government was being evacuated from the protest site and accused them of manipulating readings, possibly by ‘sprinkling water at data centres.’ Another resident, Neha, called the lack of action over the past decade a “violation of our constitutional rights.”
As of Monday, Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category, a level of toxicity that has plagued the city for weeks now.