Congress slams authorities over detention of protesters demanding clear air

The Congress on Monday (November 10, 2025) attacked the Centre over the transient detention of a number of folks protesting at India Gate in opposition to the worsening air high quality and stated when the federal government is “failing miserably” in its ‘kartavya’, the folks should fulfil theirs.

Scores of individuals, together with dad and mom and environmental activists, staged a protest at India Gate on Sunday in opposition to the worsening air high quality within the nationwide capital.

According to police, a number of protesters had been detained for assembling with out permission. They had been later launched.

Congress basic secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh stated the enduring India Gate is on Kartavya Path — so named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. “The citizens of Delhi who are protesting for better air quality are only wanting to carry out their own Kartavya under Article 51-A (g) of the Constitution of India which mandates them ‘to protect and improve the natural environment….’,” Mr. Ramesh stated on X.

“So why are they being prevented by the Delhi Police to register their desperate concern at the atrocious air quality where they live and work?” the Congress chief stated. “When the government is failing miserably in its Kartavya, the people have to fulfil theirs,” he stated.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (November 10) had criticised the federal government after a number of folks protesting at India Gate in opposition to the worsening air high quality had been detained for assembling with out permission and requested why residents peacefully demanding clear air had been being handled like “criminals”.

Mr. Gandhi had known as for decisive motion on air air pollution “right now, instead of attacking citizens asking for clean air”.

He made the remarks on X in response to a publish by environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, who stated that protesters had been “taken away” and “shoved in a bus”.

Mr. Gandhi stated, “The right to clean air is a basic human right. The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution. Why are citizens who have been peacefully demanding clean air being treated like criminals?”

Air air pollution is affecting crores of Indians, harming our kids and the way forward for our nation, the Leader of Opposition within the Lok Sabha stated. But the federal government, which got here to energy by means of “vote chori” merely would not care, neither is it even making an attempt to unravel this disaster, Mr. Gandhi stated.

“We need to take decisive action on air pollution right now instead of attacking citizens asking for clean air,” he stated.

The protesters, lots of them moms accompanied by youngsters, stated that they had gathered to demand pressing authorities motion to make sure clear air.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Devesh Kumar Mahla, stated the detentions had been preventive in nature. “Only Jantar Mantar is designated as a protest site where permission can be sought by following due procedure,” he had stated.