Outraged Parents Demand Clean Air Action as Delhi Chokes on Toxic Smog

On November 10, 2025, a large crowd of parents, citizens, and youth gathered at India Gate in Delhi, united by their concern over the city's worsening air pollution. The protest was entirely spontaneous, with no organizers or political affiliations. The protesters were driven by a shared sense of exhaustion, anxiety, and love for their city and its children.

Over the past few weeks, Delhi's air quality had once again deteriorated to "very poor" levels, according to official data. However, the protesters felt the authorities were downplaying the crisis, manipulating the numbers to avoid triggering stricter emergency measures. They demanded an independent, expert-led Air Quality and Public Health Commission that would set and enforce clean air standards, monitor transparently, and communicate honestly with the public.

The protesters also called for the creation of a national health advisory system, led by the Ministry of Health, to provide real-time alerts and guidance to citizens on when to take protective measures. They urged the government to treat the air pollution crisis as a public health emergency, on par with a virus outbreak, and to be held accountable for the funds spent on ineffective "emergency" measures in the past.

As dusk fell, the peaceful protesters were met with police detentions and aggression, further eroding public trust in the authorities' ability to address this crisis. The protesters' demands for transparent, health-centered governance and continuous action to ensure clean air for all remain unmet.