In the wake of the alarming air quality situation in the National Capital Region, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday issued a strong call to both the Central and Delhi governments to take urgent action to mitigate the “filthy smog” that has engulfed Delhi. Speaking through her social media platform X, Gandhi highlighted the severe health risks posed by the deteriorating air quality and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to prioritize immediate interventions. She emphasized that the worsening pollution in Delhi is not merely an environmental concern but a public health emergency affecting millions of residents, particularly children, senior citizens, and those with respiratory ailments.

Priyanka Gandhi, the Wayanad Member of Parliament, contrasted the clean, green air she experienced in Wayanad with the heavily polluted conditions in Delhi. In her social media post, she described the transition from Wayanad to Delhi, and then to Bachwara in Bihar, as “truly shocking.” The Capital, she said, is currently enveloped “like a grey shroud,” with thick smog blanketing the city and reducing visibility. The Congress leader urged all political actors, irrespective of their affiliations, to unite in addressing the problem, emphasizing the importance of a non-partisan approach to public health and environmental sustainability. She assured that the Congress party would extend its full cooperation and support to any measures the government decides to implement to improve air quality, stressing that political differences should not delay or impede action on such a critical issue.

Gandhi particularly highlighted the vulnerability of children commuting to schools, elderly citizens, and people suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses. “Year after year, the citizens of Delhi are subjected to this toxicity with no recourse,” she said. Her comments underscored long-standing frustrations among Delhi residents, who have been grappling with increasingly hazardous air quality levels during the winter months due to a combination of vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, dust, and crop-burning in neighboring states. The recurring smog has been linked to heightened hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and severe disruption to daily life, including reduced visibility and school closures.

The Congress leader’s remarks were echoed and further expanded upon by Jairam Ramesh, the party’s general secretary in charge of communications. Ramesh specifically criticized the winter cloud-seeding experiment undertaken by the BJP-led Delhi government as a futile and misleading measure. According to Ramesh, the Delhi government spent ₹34 crore on the project, which was intended to artificially induce rainfall during winter in an attempt to disperse pollutants and improve air quality. However, Ramesh argued that the initiative, while visually dramatic, had negligible impact on actual air pollution levels and was largely designed to create a perception of action without delivering substantive results.

Ramesh cited evidence from multiple expert agencies that had explicitly advised against the use of winter cloud seeding as a viable solution to Delhi’s chronic air quality crisis. He noted that in December of the previous year, the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change had informed the Rajya Sabha that three specialized agencies—the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Territory, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Indian Meteorological Department—had all concluded that winter cloud seeding would be ineffective in improving air quality in the Capital. Despite this, the experiment was carried out, raising questions about the government’s reliance on measures that prioritize optics over scientific efficacy.

Further reinforcing these concerns, Ramesh referred to a detailed report released on October 31 by the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi. According to the report, the cloud-seeding efforts were unlikely to produce meaningful or sustained improvements in air quality. While the experiment may result in minor and temporary localized effects, the overall pollution levels across Delhi remain unaddressed. Ramesh criticized the initiative as a superficial attempt to create the impression of proactive governance, noting that any claimed improvement was likely limited to small areas and short timeframes. He described it as a “cruel joke” on the residents of Delhi, who face severe health risks due to exposure to toxic air pollutants.

The criticisms by Priyanka Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh come amid increasing public concern over the persistent smog and hazardous air quality levels in Delhi, which often exceed the “severe” threshold defined by the Central Pollution Control Board. Citizens have reported difficulty breathing, eye irritation, coughing, and other respiratory symptoms, while hospitals have seen a surge in patients suffering from acute and chronic respiratory illnesses. The winter months, coupled with crop residue burning in neighboring states, low wind speeds, and a high concentration of vehicles and industries, exacerbate the situation, leading to one of the most polluted urban environments globally during this period.

Both Gandhi and Ramesh have underscored the urgent need for long-term, scientifically grounded solutions rather than temporary measures aimed at public display. They emphasized that the government should focus on reducing emissions at the source, including stricter vehicular emission standards, promotion of cleaner fuels, improved industrial regulation, better waste management, and inter-state coordination to prevent crop-burning. Additionally, urban planning measures such as increasing green cover, promoting public transport, and reducing dust from construction activities are critical for sustainable improvements in air quality.

Priyanka Gandhi’s appeal was not limited to criticism but also included a cooperative stance. She urged the Centre and the Delhi government to act decisively and stated that political differences should be set aside in the face of a crisis affecting millions of residents. “We will support and cooperate with whatever actions they choose to take to mitigate this awful situation,” she said. Her statement emphasized the importance of collaborative governance in tackling environmental and public health challenges, signaling Congress’ willingness to engage constructively with the authorities on this pressing issue.

Jairam Ramesh reinforced this sentiment while underscoring the necessity of following evidence-based measures. He stressed that political expediency should not replace scientific advice, warning that measures such as cloud seeding provide a false sense of achievement without addressing the root causes of pollution. According to Ramesh, the limited, temporary effects of cloud seeding cannot substitute for comprehensive and sustained policy interventions required to improve air quality meaningfully.

The broader context of these remarks highlights the persistent environmental challenges faced by Delhi, one of the world’s most populous urban centers. Every winter, air quality levels deteriorate to alarming levels, creating a recurring public health crisis. Efforts to address the issue have historically been fragmented, with temporary measures often prioritized over systematic and structural interventions. This has led to public frustration and growing political debate over the effectiveness of government actions and the need for accountability in implementing environmental policies.

In conclusion, Priyanka Gandhi’s public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta represents both a call to immediate action and a broader critique of policy approaches toward air pollution in the Capital. By highlighting the inadequacy of measures such as cloud seeding, she, along with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, has stressed the importance of evidence-based and scientifically sound interventions. Their statements call for a united, non-partisan response to the recurring air quality crisis in Delhi, emphasizing that public health and environmental sustainability must take precedence over political considerations. As winter progresses and pollution levels worsen, the residents of Delhi, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, senior citizens, and those with pre-existing health conditions, await decisive and effective action from both the Central and state governments to address this pressing challenge.