Sonia Gandhi Blasts Centre Over Delhi Smog Crisis, Says “Government Must Act, Children Are Dying”

New Delhi: The worsening air quality in the national capital triggered sharp criticism from senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, who on Thursday accused the NDA government of neglecting a severe public health crisis. Speaking outside Parliament, Gandhi said the rising pollution levels are choking Delhi’s most vulnerable groups and demanded urgent intervention.

“It is absolutely the government’s responsibility to act now,” she said. “Children are falling sick, elderly people like me are struggling to breathe. The situation is unacceptable. I’ve already written about what needs to be done, but the government is still not moving.”

Accompanying her, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the concerns, stating that air pollution spikes every winter but the Centre repeatedly fails to implement long-term solutions.
“How can anyone enjoy the weather when people can’t breathe?” she asked. “Like Sonia ji said, children and senior citizens are suffering the most. Every year the situation becomes worse, but there is no meaningful action. This is not a political fight — this is about public health, and the opposition is ready to support the government if it chooses to act.”

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘poor’ zone at 299 on Thursday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), after briefly improving during November 30 and December 1. The AQI slipped back into the ‘very poor’ category earlier this week, prompting fresh concerns for millions of Delhi residents.