Why Is Modi Ji Silent While India's Children Choke on Pollution?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi-NCR's air quality is critically poor.
- Rahul Gandhi highlights the health risks for children.
- Immediate government action is demanded.
- Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 385.
- Women are vocal about their concerns.
New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) With the air quality in Delhi-NCR plummeting further, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, expressed grave concerns on Friday, stating that India’s children are suffocating from toxic air and questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this pressing issue.
Gandhi took to ‘X’ to share, “Every mother I encounter tells me the same: Her child is growing up amidst toxic air. They are exhausted, scared, and angry.”
“Modi ji, Indian children are choking in front of us. How can you remain silent? Why does your administration lack urgency, plans, and accountability?” he questioned.
He further stressed, “India requires an immediate and comprehensive debate in Parliament about air pollution and a strict, actionable plan to address this health crisis. Our children deserve clean air, not excuses and diversions.”
Additionally, Rahul Gandhi shared a video in which he interacts with women expressing profound worries about escalating pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. The women voiced their concerns over the deteriorating health of their children due to polluted air, stating that their health is declining daily.
They cautioned that ignoring this crisis could lead to long-term health and economic repercussions for the nation. The voices in the video questioned why the government has not issued appropriate health advisories or taken urgent preventive measures.
In response, Gandhi pointed out that pollution persists because numerous stakeholders benefit from the existing system and resist meaningful corrective actions.
Meanwhile, Delhi experienced another day of hazardous air on Friday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385, categorizing it as “very poor.” Air pollution in Delhi-NCR remains perilous, providing little relief to residents already grappling with cold weather.
The rise in pollution levels followed the removal of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-III restrictions aimed at controlling severe pollution levels just a day earlier. Unfortunately, the brief relief was short-lived, as air quality declined swiftly again, with the overall AQI soaring to 377 from 327 within 24 hours.
Despite the worsening situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) clarified that Stage-III restrictions would only be reinstated if the AQI exceeds 400, which falls under the “severe” category. Until that point, authorities plan to continue monitoring the situation without imposing stricter measures.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), pollution levels rose steadily throughout Thursday due to persistently low wind speeds, with the AQI recorded at 351 in the morning and escalating to 381 by evening, indicating a continuous accumulation of pollutants across the region.