Rahul Gandhi urges joint long-term national plan to fight air pollution
The Sunday Mail
New Delhi. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for a coordinated, city-wise approach to curb worsening air pollution, stressing that the issue is beyond political ideology and requires cooperation between the government and the Opposition.
Gandhi asked for a detailed debate in Parliament followed by a long-term national roadmap, noting that India needs “methodical and systematic” action to bring down pollution levels over the next five to ten years, even if the problem cannot be fully eradicated immediately.
He proposed that the Prime Minister should present clear, city-specific action plans, saying, “Let us discuss this comprehensively, and then the Prime Minister can outline a structured plan for each city—how in the next five or ten years we can significantly improve air quality and reduce the burden on our people.”
Highlighting the severity of the crisis, he said major Indian cities are “covered in toxic air,” with children developing respiratory illnesses, the elderly struggling to breathe, and rising cancer cases linked to poor air quality.
Gandhi added that this is one of the few issues where both sides can show unity and work together. He appealed to MPs to refrain from political point-scoring and instead focus on concrete steps that can bring immediate and long-term relief.
Calling air pollution a national emergency, he urged the government to prepare a clear, actionable strategy to clean urban air, assuring full cooperation from the Opposition. He reiterated that the Opposition is ready to collaborate on a practical framework to reduce pollution and improve public health across India.
