JNU, DU, Jamia students stage protest against rising air pollution in Delhi; demands immediate resolution

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of Delhiites, including students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University (DU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), as well as activists, journalists, and members of groups like Scientists for Society (SFS) and the Revolutionary Workers Party of India (RWPI), gathered at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to protest and demand urgent measures to improve the city's air quality. Delhi has been battling "very poor" air conditions since Diwali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering above 300 for several days.

Aditya from SFS highlighted the current situation in Delhi, and said: "The AQI has crossed 500, which is classified as severe, and has surpassed all previous records. In recent years, deaths caused by poor air quality have risen to nearly 17,000 annually."

"While it may seem typical for air quality to decline after festivals, the current situation is very serious and requires immediate and effective action," Aditya added.

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Yogesh from RWPI noted that the working class is bearing the brunt of this crisis. He said the government's pollution measures were disrupting the livelihoods of the working class, even though their neighborhoods still faced worse pollution. He said workers cannot afford expensive air purifiers and, unlike the wealthy who escape to the mountains, they are forced to live with the crisis. Yogesh added that the government is constantly running empty programs to mislead the public.

"Water spraying and cloud seeding have failed to control pollution, noting that experts agree that cloud seeding is neither permanent nor effective for Delhi," He added

Delhi air quality persistently very poor

On Tuesday, the city woke up to another day of toxic haze, recording an overall AQI of 344, while four monitoring stations reported pollution levels in the “severe” category, according to CPCB data. Protesters wore industrial-grade respiratory masks as symbolic props and held placards, including ones that read, “Delhi ICU mein hai, Govt kahan hai?” Several demonstrators said the deteriorating air had severely impacted day-to-day life in northern India.

“The quality of life is finished in northern India. We are getting health issues due to bad air, and our children are suffering. What will we do with a five-trillion-dollar economy if citizens live in such an environment?” a protestor asked.

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Another demonstrator, Shahid, criticised the BJP-ruled Delhi government for “not tackling real issues”. “Blaming previous governments cannot go on. The government ordered air purifiers for its offices so that leaders can breathe clean air. But what about common people?” he said. A DU student, Anjali, said they had organised a similar protest at India Gate on November 10, during which around 15 women were detained and allegedly dropped off in Bawana late at night. “We will not make peace with the situation. Clean air is our fundamental right,” she said.

She alleged the Delhi government was “manipulating AQI data”, wasting public funds on cloud-seeding despite scientific objections, and “taking no steps to curb the causes of pollution”. Holding a poster that read, “Plants are giving us oxygen, but are we inhaling poison?” a boy said his throat had been hurting due to the rising pollution . “Pollution should be stopped.

The situation is very poor,” he added. On November 9, scores of people, including parents and environmental activists, staged a protest at the India Gate against the worsening air quality in the national capital. Later, some protestors were also detained by the Delhi Police, citing the absence of permission for the protest.