'Maza lijiye...': Opposition protests on Parliament premises over air pollution
What's the story
Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a protest on the Parliament premises on Thursday over air pollution in Delhi and other parts of North India. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi participated in the protest. The MPs wore oxygen masks and held a banner to take a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which read "Mausam ka maza lijiye."
Health emergency
Opposition MPs demand national health emergency declaration
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticized the government for not addressing the pollution crisis, likening Delhi to a "gas chamber." He said, "Opposition MPs will peacefully protest over this today at Makar Dwar in Parliament and draw the government's attention." Meanwhile, former party chief Sonia said it is the responsibility of the government to do something. "Young children are suffering, and it is also difficult for elderly people like me," she told mediapersons.
Twitter Post
Only statements made every year, no action, says Priyanka
#WATCH | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "Which season should we enjoy? Look at the situation outside. Like Sonia ji said, children are unable to breath. She has asthma, and senior citizens like her are facing breathing difficulty. The situation keeps getting worse year… https://t.co/lc9n1Texoc pic.twitter.com/UW4U41ytT1
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025
Pollution levels
Delhi's air quality remains poor, despite slight improvement
Despite a slight improvement, Delhi's air quality remained poor with an AQI of 299 on Monday morning. The previous day, the city recorded an AQI of 342 in the 'very poor' category. Parts of Delhi were still covered in thick smog, affecting visibility in areas like Ghazipur and Akshardham. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed several parts of the National Capital fell under the 'very poor' category.
Proposed solutions
Opposition MPs propose solutions to combat air pollution
Tamil Nadu MP P Wilson called pollution a national emergency, noting that over 17,000 people die in Delhi every year, with air pollution being a significant contributing factor. He suggested reconsidering the timing of Parliament sessions during peak smog months. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday to tackle air pollution in Delhi NCR. The meeting focused on repairing roads, controlling dust, managing construction waste, and improving industrial compliance.