Rahul Gandhi Urges Government to Frame City-Specific National Plan to Combat Air Pollution

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday called on the government to develop a comprehensive, city-specific strategy to tackle air pollution, describing it as a “non-ideological” issue that requires immediate bipartisan attention. Gandhi emphasized that the matter demands a structured Parliamentary discussion followed by a long-term national action plan to address the crisis effectively.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi stressed the need for full cooperation between the Treasury and Opposition benches, urging lawmakers to set aside political differences to safeguard public health. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, he said, “It would be good if we have a detailed discussion, and then the Prime Minister puts in place a plan for each city—a methodical, systematic plan on how within the next five or ten years… maybe, we cannot resolve the problem completely, but how we are going to impact the problem and make life for our people easier.”

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi termed air pollution a national catastrophe, calling for an “immediate and comprehensive national action plan.” He underlined that this issue is bipartisan, not political, and pledged the Opposition’s readiness to work alongside the government. “This is not a political issue but a bipartisan responsibility, for which we are ready to work with the PM to combat it, solve it and protect the future of our people,” he wrote.

Gandhi clarified that the proposed national discussion should focus on practical solutions rather than dwell on past actions or failures. He stressed that the debate must avoid partisan blame games and instead concentrate on developing actionable measures to improve air quality.

Raising alarm over the deteriorating air conditions in India’s major cities, Gandhi warned that millions of children are developing lung diseases, elderly citizens are struggling to breathe, and cancer cases are rising due to toxic air pollution. He noted that this is one of the rare issues on which both the government and Opposition can demonstrate unity for the common good.

He urged members of Parliament to use the upcoming debate to “show the country” that collaborative efforts are possible in addressing a pressing national challenge. Gandhi emphasized framing the discussion around specific action steps rather than engaging in partisan arguments, pointing out that practical measures to combat air pollution are far more important than political point-scoring.

Reiterating the Opposition’s willingness to cooperate, Gandhi said, “I think it’s important that the government develops a plan for how to get rid of air pollution in our cities. We are more than happy to cooperate with the government on developing such a plan. There are not many issues these days that the government and the entire Opposition can agree on.”

Through his appeal, Gandhi underlined that tackling air pollution requires collective responsibility, immediate intervention, and a long-term roadmap to protect public health and ensure sustainable living conditions across the country.