VERY POOR’ AMID HIGH DRAMA: Opposition Attacks Government Over Protester Detentions
The persistent and life-threatening air pollution crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR) reached a flashpoint on Sunday, triggering a fierce political confrontation after Delhi Police detained scores of citizens who had gathered at the iconic India Gate to peacefully demand immediate government action against the toxic air.1 This move drew immediate and scathing criticism from Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who firmly asserted that the right to breathe clean air and the right to protest peacefully are fundamental human and constitutional rights that cannot be violated.2
Gandhi’s Stinging Rebuke to the Centre
In a forceful statement posted on X, Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the central government for its handling of the demonstrators, arguing that citizens who are peacefully asking for a solution to a widespread health crisis should not be “treated like criminals.”3
“The right to clean air is a fundamental human right, and the right to peaceful protest is protected by our Constitution,” Gandhi wrote, emphasizing the alarming magnitude of the ongoing crisis, noting that air pollution affects “crores of Indians,” causes harm to children, and severely jeopardizes the nation’s future well-being and economic stability.6 The Congress leader accused the BJP government of profound apathy and political failure, alleging the party came to power through “vote chori” and was now showing no intent to solve the complex pollution crisis.7 “But the government which came to power through vote chori simply doesn’t care, nor is it even attempting to solve this crisis.8 We need to take decisive action on air pollution right now instead of attacking citizens asking for clean air,” he asserted, calling for immediate and decisive governmental intervention to safeguard the health and future of the country.9 Gandhi’s remarks positioned the protests not just as a law-and-order issue but as a struggle for fundamental civil and environmental rights.
Police Justify Detentions Citing Supreme Court Order
The detentions took place as parents, environmental activists, and concerned residents gathered, many wearing masks and holding banners with messages like ‘Breathing is killing me’ and ‘Invisible emergency,’ to demand the formulation of effective policies to curb the smog.10
New Delhi District DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla confirmed the detentions, providing a legal context for the police action.11 He clarified that the location was the primary issue: “India Gate is not a protest site.12 The designated protest site in New Delhi is Jantar Mantar, as per the Supreme Court’s directions.” The DCP explained that the move was necessary to enforce law and order, prevent the obstruction of traffic on vital VIP routes, and ensure that the national monument remained accessible to the general public who visit with their families.13 Police officials reported that they resorted to detentions only after the demonstrators refused requests to relocate their protest to the designated venue.14 Police also issued a letter stating that Section 163 of the BNSS (Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) was in force in the entire area, further restricting unauthorized assemblies.15 The contrasting perspectives—the citizens’ claim to the right to life (Article 21) and the police’s enforcement of court-mandated restrictions on public assembly—underscore the tension surrounding civic engagement in the capital.
AAP Alleges Data Manipulation and Credibility Crisis
The political accusations deepened when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar joined the protestors and launched a serious allegation against the ruling party regarding the pollution figures.16 Kakkar claimed that the BJP government was actively manipulating air quality data by having water sprinkled on Air Quality Index (AQI) monitors in an effort to artificially lower the readings.17
Kakkar accused the BJP of spraying water on AQI monitors to fake lower pollution levels. This lowers the BJP’s integrity and credibility.”19 She demanded that the government shift its focus from data management to genuine policy formulation to tackle the crisis, criticizing ruling party members for allegedly sitting at home with air purifiers while the public suffered.20 AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj reinforced these claims, alleging “deception and data tampering,” and accusing the government of seeking to reduce the figures of pollution rather than the pollution itself, an allegation that points to a crisis of trust in official environmental reporting.21
Updated Air Quality Status: Stuck in ‘Very Poor’
The entire episode unfolded as the national capital grappled with highly toxic air quality.22 On Sunday, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged deep into the ‘Severe’ category, recording an alarming reading of 391 at 7 a.m., according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).23 Several specific monitoring stations across the city, including Bawana and Anand Vihar, breached the 400-mark, indicating hazardous conditions.24
While the city woke up to a slight, marginal improvement on Monday morning (November 10, 2025), the air quality remains firmly in the dangerous ‘Very Poor’ category, signifying persistent health risks for all residents.25
The overall AQI of 345 still means that prolonged exposure is likely to cause respiratory illness and affects millions of people daily.26 The small improvement on Monday led the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to refrain from invoking the most restrictive GRAP Stage III measures, despite the Supreme Court’s order suggesting such measures be considered at an AQI of 350.27 The decision to keep only Stages I and II in effect highlights the government’s struggle to balance severe public health concerns with the economic impact of imposing stricter bans. The ongoing political clash over the right to protest, the integrity of environmental data, and the government’s competence against the backdrop of toxic air underscores the gravity of Delhi’s pollution emergency.
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