Protesters detained in New Delhi over anti-pollution demonstration

Several demonstrators were detained by police on Sunday during a protest outside India Gate in New Delhi, calling for measures to reduce air pollution. Protesters demanded cleaner air across the city and surrounding areas, carrying banners with slogans urging action. Police later removed the banners.

Air pollution in New Delhi is a recurring problem, particularly during the winter months, as residents face health issues from toxic smog. One masked protester, Neha, told reporters: “We have only one issue: the crisis of clean air. This has persisted for years, yet no effective action has been taken.”

Footage released by the Indian news agency ANI, as reported by Reuters, shows police forcibly boarding protesters onto a bus. Some banners read, “We are dying from breathing,” while others carried the slogan, “Clean air is our right.”

According to India’s Central Pollution Control Board, on Monday, New Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) registered 345, categorised as ‘very poor’. For reference, an AQI of 0–50 is considered ‘good’, while 401–500 is deemed ‘hazardous’.

Police said that protesters had gathered in an area where demonstrations were not authorised, prompting them to clear the site. Opposition leaders, however, criticised the removal of demonstrators.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Clean air is a basic human right. The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in our Constitution. Why, then, are citizens peacefully demanding action against air pollution being treated like criminals?”

New Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, stated: “We will continue to take all possible measures to reduce pollution. This is our government’s commitment.” The Delhi government is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During winter, the Delhi region is often blanketed by dense fog, which traps construction dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke from fires, causing breathing difficulties for residents. Last month, the Delhi government attempted artificial rainfall through cloud seeding to combat pollution, but the effort was unsuccessful.