Stressing the need for collective action, he added that it would be worthwhile for everyone to participate in a thorough discussion, followed by the Prime Minister introducing a plan for each city. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government is open to discussion
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha speaks in the House during the Winter session of Parliament on Friday. Pic/PTI
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday drew attention to the worsening air pollution crisis in India’s major cities. He urged the government to hold a detailed discussion in parliament and create a systematic plan to tackle the issue, news agency ANI reported.
The Congress leader said that the futures of millions of children are being jeopardised as they develop lung diseases.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said, "Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung diseases. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to breathe. This is an interesting issue because I'm certain that there will be full agreement between the government and us on this issue. This is not an ideological issue. Everybody in this house would agree that air pollution, the damage it is doing to our people, is something that we would like to cooperate on."
Stressing the need for collective action, he added that it would be worthwhile for everyone to participate in a thorough discussion, followed by the Prime Minister introducing a plan for each city, ANI reported.
"It's important that the government develops a plan for how to get rid of air pollution in our cities. We are more than happy to cooperate with the government on developing such a plan. There are not many issues these days that the government and the entire opposition can agree on. I think the government should have a discussion in parliament. We should try not to make it a discussion where we are abusing you, and you are abusing us," Gandhi said.
Continuing his speech, Gandhi said, "I think we should make it a discussion where we are participating, we are showing the country that on this fundamental issue, there is agreement, and the best minds are going to be put into place to solve this issue. I think it would be good if we have a detailed discussion and then the Prime Minister puts in place a plan for each city, a methodical systematic plan on how, within the next five or ten years, maybe we cannot resolve the problem, but how we are going to address the problem and make life for our people easier."
#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung disease. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to… pic.twitter.com/hBRzfOb0rB
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2025
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government is open to discussion.
"The government, from day one, had made our position very clear that on all important matters, the government is ready to discuss and also to find a solution, taking along the suggestions from all the members, including the principal opposition party led by Rahul Gandhi ji. Under the various laws and rules, we will see how we will take up this discussion," said Rijiju.
The exchange comes amid rising public concern about deteriorating air quality across multiple cities, especially in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), where the air quality index (AQI) has climbed above 300, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.
(With ANI inputs)
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