Scores of parents and environmental activists gathered near India Gate on Sunday to protest against the worsening air quality in Delhi. Many of the protesters, including mothers who brought their children along, said they had assembled to demand immediate action from the government to ensure clean air.
Environmental activist Bhavreen Khandari said the group had attempted to meet the Chief Minister but did not receive an appointment. “Every third child already has damaged lungs. They will live almost 10 years less than those who grow up breathing cleaner air. Parents are here today because their children are suffering,” she said.
Another protester, Abhishek, alleged that governments were failing to guarantee even the basic right to breathe clean air. He added that Delhi, once known for its green cover, now ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. “Political leaders keep blaming one another. No one is taking responsibility,” he said.
Police officials said the group was detained because they had gathered without permission. “There was no approval to hold a protest at India Gate. To maintain law and order, some individuals were detained,” a police officer stated. DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla described the detentions as preventive, adding that Jantar Mantar is the designated location for protests where permission can be sought through the proper process.
The demonstration took place on a day when Delhi air quality once again slipped into the ‘severe’ category, with several monitoring stations recording Air Quality Index readings above 400.