Protesters demand action on air pollution at India Gate, detained
What's the story
On Sunday, a protest against worsening air quality was held at India Gate in New Delhi. The demonstration was joined by parents, citizens, environmentalists, and political leaders. The protest started around 5:00pm, and animal rights activists also participated to oppose a recent Supreme Court ruling on stray dogs. Despite a high police presence, the protesters alleged they were threatened with FIRs and detentions for gathering without permission.
Detentions
60-80 people detained for blocking traffic: Police
Delhi Police detained dozens of protesters and took them to different police stations. DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla confirmed that around 60-80 people were detained from Mansingh Road for blocking traffic. Additional DCP Anand Kumar Mishra had denied permission for the protest, citing security and traffic concerns. Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha alleged on social media that even children were being detained while protesting their right to breathe clean air, but the police denied these claims.
Twitter Post
Environmentalist alleges children were detained
Even children are detained, who were only asking for their right to breathe. India Gate Air Protest. pic.twitter.com/IkglvLCORQ
— Vimlendu Jha विमलेंदु झा (@vimlendu) November 9, 2025
Criticism
Protesters call for immediate action on air quality crisis
The protesters slammed the government's inaction on rising air pollution levels, calling it a health emergency. Akansha Kulkarni, a mother of a four-year-old girl, said she hasn't let her daughter go to parks since last month. Another protester stressed individual efforts can't solve the crisis and called for a joint strategy among neighboring states. Concerns were also raised about stray dogs' removal from their habitats after the Supreme Court's ruling.
Political response
Protest triggers blame game between Delhi governments
The protest sparked a political row between the previous and current Delhi governments. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the AAP-led previous government of systemic failure in addressing air pollution. AAP's Bharadwaj alleged data manipulation by major institutions like DPCC and CPCB, creating a trust deficit among people. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized that "the right to clean air is a basic human right" and questioned why peaceful protesters were treated like criminals.
Protest suppression
NCP leader slams government for stopping him from joining protest
NCP (SP) national spokesperson Anish Gawande alleged he was stopped from joining the protest. He criticized the government's efforts to restrict citizens' right to express their concerns over pollution. The protest highlighted growing public frustration with air quality management in Delhi and sparked a debate on political accountability and transparency in handling environmental issues.