Don’t Children Breathe?’: Delhi Residents Gather at India Gate to Demand Clean Air

New Delhi, November 10, 2025 Delhi’s choking air pushed hundreds of residents to gather at India Gate on Sunday evening, demanding immediate action for cleaner air. The protest, which saw participation from parents, activists, and concerned citizens, turned tense as police detained several demonstrators who had assembled without official permission. Wearing gas masks, holding copies of the Constitution, and even carrying their children, protesters marched peacefully to draw attention to Delhi’s worsening air pollution crisis. The phrase “Bacche saans nahi lete kya?” (“Don’t children breathe?”) became the rallying cry after a video from the protest went viral, showing a police officer questioning why a parent had brought their child to the protest, prompting a protester’s sharp response. According to police, about 60–80 people were detained for blocking Man Singh Road and disrupting traffic. Authorities said protesters were asked to move to Jantar Mantar, but many refused, insisting India Gate was symbolic of their demand for accountability. Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed the previous AAP-led government, accusing it of “making the air poisonous for 10 years.” He said the new government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had installed anti-smog guns, enforced dust control measures, and promoted electric buses and vehicles, but that “a decade of damage can’t be undone in seven months.” However, critics said such claims were insufficient. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the detention of protesters, stating that the right to clean air and peaceful protest are fundamental human rights. He accused the central government of ignoring the pollution crisis and treating citizens “like criminals” for demanding a basic necessity — breathable air. AAP’s Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj joined the protest, accusing the government of manipulating air quality data and failing to implement effective pollution control steps. “When people lose trust in official data, they take to the streets,” he said, adding that the problem has persisted for years but the current manipulation of information was particularly worrying. Environmental activists such as Bhavreen Kandhari also spoke out, highlighting how parents, especially mothers, are desperate for change. “Schools are holding sports days, marathons are being organised, and yet there’s no advisory on toxic air. We’re here as parents — not politicians — holding inhalers and prescriptions. This is about our children’s health,” she said. Despite the outrage, officials maintained that they had only detained those blocking roads and assured that others were “guided away peacefully.” But for many residents, the incident symbolised how citizens seeking clean air are being silenced rather than heard. Delhi’s air quality has remained in the “very poor” category for weeks, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) often crossing hazardous levels. Temporary measures such as cloud seeding, water sprinkling, and construction bans have failed to bring lasting relief. As one protester summed up: “We aren’t asking for luxury — just air we can breathe.” ‘Don’t Children Breathe?’: Delhi Residents Gather at India Gate to Demand Clean Air Delhi’s worsening air quality pushed hundreds of residents to protest at India Gate on Sunday evening, demanding urgent action for cleaner air. Parents, students, and environmental activists gathered wearing masks and holding copies of the Constitution, calling attention to toxic air levels that have persisted for weeks. Tensions rose when police detained around 60 to 80 protesters, saying they had assembled without permission and were blocking Man Singh Road. A viral video from the protest captured a heated moment when a police officer asked why children were brought to the rally, and a protester replied, “Bacche saans nahi lete kya?” (“Don’t children breathe?”), which soon became the protest’s defining slogan. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed the previous AAP government for a decade of pollution and said the current administration was working on anti-smog measures and electric transport. Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi condemned the police action, calling clean air a basic human right. Environmentalists such as Bhavreen Kandhari and Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the government of manipulating pollution data and ignoring citizens’ suffering. The protest ended with detentions, but the message was clear — Delhiites want air they can breathe.