‘Children are choking’: Rahul slams PM’s ‘silence’ over Delhi pollution emergency, urges Parliament debate

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded urgent action from the Narendra Modi government over the persistent air pollution problem in the National Capital Region, stating that kids were choking.

Posting a video on X where Rahul is seen interacting with a group of mothers, the Congress leader said the mothers concerned about the health of their children amid high levels of pollution in Delhi are scared and angry. And the government is showing no urgency and accountability, he lamented.

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The Lok Sabha MP called for a debate in Parliament on the matter and ended his post by asserting that the children deserve clean air.

Here’s what Rahul Gandhi posted on X Friday morning:

“Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability? India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency. Our children deserve clean air – not excuses and distractions.”

Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry.

Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?… pic.x.com/HR87tlHQ1f

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 28, 2025

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came just a day after the country’s highest court agreed to urgently hear the Delhi–NCR air pollution matter (the MC Mehta case) on Monday next. The Supreme Court, while accepting the case, stressed that the judiciary had no magic wand to deliver instantaneous solutions to a crisis of this magnitude.

What Supreme Court said on Delhi pollution crisis

A Supreme Court Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, admitted that Delhi’s worsening air quality is a “health emergency”, but also added that the court will rely on scientific and expert inputs rather than issuing ad-hoc judicial directions.

“We know the problem. We need to identify all the reasons. There is no one single reason; it would be a mistake to think so,” the CJI observed. “What magic wand can a judicial forum exercise? Tell me, what can we direct so that there is clean air immediately?” he asked.

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CJI Surya Kant further said the court would now hear the pollution matter “on a regular, continuous basis”, while pointing out that the issue resurfaces every winter and fades thereafter.

The court expressed its concern amid worsening air quality in the national capital, with doctors calling it a serious health crisis and citizens reporting various ailments due to the prevalent toxic air. Stubble burning during winters in northern states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is described as one of the key reasons for the pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.