In a dramatic turn during today’s parliamentary session, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmakers staged a walkout protesting the government’s inaction on the escalating air pollution crisis gripping Delhi and surrounding regions. The opposition party’s move came after repeated demands for concrete measures fell on deaf ears, highlighting the deepening frustration among legislators over the toxic smog blanketing the capital.
The session began with AAP leaders raising pointed questions about the surge in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, which have consistently hovered in the ‘severe’ category for weeks. They accused the central government of failing to enforce stricter emission norms, curb stubble burning in neighboring states, and expedite the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme. ‘The people of Delhi are choking, yet the government offers only empty promises,’ thundered AAP MP Sanjay Singh, leading the charge from the well of the House.
Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged the treasury benches to respond, but ministers cited ongoing efforts like the odd-even scheme revival and increased metro expansions as sufficient countermeasures. Dissatisfied, AAP members trooped out en masse, chanting slogans against what they termed ‘pollution politics.’ This isn’t the first time pollution has sparked such confrontations; last winter saw similar disruptions, underscoring a perennial issue that transcends party lines but intensifies during opposition offensives.
Outside the House, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal took to social media, amplifying the protest by sharing visuals of hazy skylines and hospital admissions spiking due to respiratory ailments. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reveals Delhi’s AQI breached 450 on multiple days, rivaling some of the world’s most polluted cities. Experts warn that without coordinated action across states, the crisis could worsen with winter’s onset, bringing colder temperatures that trap pollutants closer to the ground.
As the dust settles in Parliament, the walkout serves as a stark reminder of the political weight pollution carries in India’s national capital. With assembly elections looming in Delhi, AAP’s aggressive posturing could sway public sentiment, pressuring the BJP-led government to unveil bolder strategies. Meanwhile, citizens brace for another smog season, hoping rhetoric translates into breathable air.
