Delhi Parents Rebel as Kids Struggle to Breathe – What Happened at India Gate?

As Delhi’s Air Turns Toxic, Parents Holding Inhalers and Gas Masks Demand Long-Term Action at India Gate 

Hundreds of residents gathered at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday evening, pressing for clean air as the city’s air pollution reached dangerous levels. Many came with children in tow, some wearing gas masks and clutching copies of the Constitution, in a dramatic image of concern over air quality.

The protest, framed by the slogan “Bacche saans nahi lete?” (do children not breathe?), grew from parental anguish to a full-blown public display of frustration with government inaction on pollution. One video showed a police officer escorting a parent with a child toward a van, while the crowd shouted “bacche saans nahi lete kya?” in response to a question about bringing kids to the protest.

Detentions and Rising Anger Over Air Crisis

Authorities said they detained roughly 60–80 people for gathering without prior permission and blocking Mansingh Road. Protesters countered that they had rights under the Constitution and accused the government of ignoring rising health threats.

The latest data show that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered around 346 early Monday morning, still rated “very poor”. Some areas crossed 390, signalling a full-fledged pollution crisis. Activists warned that every third child in the city already has lung damage, a plight they say demands immediate government action.

In response, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa urged residents to weigh the damage of “10 years” of neglect, saying the current government in place for only seven months cannot reverse the state overnight. He credited the administration’s efforts to install anti-smog guns, deploy e-buses and monitor construction dust, but admitted the challenge remains massive.

Political Blame and Parents’ Plea for Action

Opposition voices were loud. Rahul Gandhi called clean air a basic human right and accused the ruling party of treating peaceful protesters like criminals. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said a trust deficit has spurred educated citizens to the streets, arguing government agencies manipulated pollution data and failed citizens for years.

Parents at the protest pressed for long-term policies rather than piecemeal fixes. One mother held an inhaler and said: “This is not a political agenda; many here just want their children to breathe clean air.” Others pointed out the irony of marathons and school sports days going ahead even as the air turned toxic.

This occupation of India Gate signals more than a single event. It marks a growing grassroots movement in Delhi that refuses to wait. The next steps now rest on whether the government shifts from rhetoric to effective execution of pollution controls, data transparency and protection of children’s health.