Delhi residents, students protest rising air pollution at Jantar Mantar

Hundreds of Delhi residents, including students from various universities, gathered at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to protest against the severe air pollution choking the Capital. The demonstrators, responding to a public call for action, raised slogans, demanding urgent and long term measures from the Delhi Government as the city continues to record hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.

Participants said they were “tormented” by the toxic air and accused the government of failing to acknowledge the gravity of the crisis.

Speaking at the gathering, JNUSU president Aditi said, “People are suffering and the government is not even ready to acknowledge the crisis. However, they have installed air purifiers in government buildings to save themselves from the venomous air. The people demand immediate and long-term action against the poison polluting Delhi’s air.”

Delhi state AISA president Saiyed Ishfaq echoed similar concerns, calling the pollution emergency “a deeply political issue”. “We are asserting that pollution is a socio-political issue and its answer lies in the intent of those who we choose as decision makers. But right now, we see our Chief Minister is not ready to step up. The venomous air needs immediate catering as well and lasting solutions. We demand a people-centric policy for industrial and vehicular pollution, which does not exclude the already marginalised.”

The protesters alleged police intimidation but said it did not deter them from continuing their demonstration. The gathering concluded with a collective resolve to intensify the movement for clean and breathable air in the Capital. The protest was endorsed with the slogan #LetDelhiBreathe.