Rahul Gandhi compares air pollution with a ‘national emergency’

New Delhi: Pollution has created havoc more or less across the country. Smog covered the national capital for about a week. The air quality of Delhi along with other major cities has turned dangerous, causing several health issues. Schools have shifted to online mode; even several universities adopted the same genre amid surging pollution levels. The Delhi government has asked all concerned departments to take all necessary steps to improve air quality. Currently, GRAP 4 has been imposed in the city.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called air pollution in North India a “national emergency” and urged Members of Parliament to prioritize the crisis in the upcoming winter session as the air quality in Delhi-NCR plunged to alarming levels.

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“Air pollution is a public health crisis that is stealing our children’s future, suffocating the elderly, and ruining countless lives,” Gandhi said. He pointed out that the crisis disproportionately affects the poor, exacerbating health disparities and curbing economic opportunities. “The poorest among us suffer the most, unable to escape the toxic air that surrounds them. Families are gasping for clean air, children are falling sick, and millions of lives are being cut short. Tourism is declining, and our global reputation is crumbling,” the former Congress chief said.

“The cloud of pollution covers hundreds of kilometres. Cleaning it up will need major changes and decisive action—from governments, companies, experts, and citizens. We need a collective national response, not political blame games,” he added.

With the winter session scheduled from November 25 to December 20, Rahul urged MPs to discuss strategies to combat the crisis. “As Parliament convenes, the irritated eyes and sore throats of MPs themselves will serve as a grim reminder of our shared responsibility to act,” he said.