‘Not a political issue,’ says Cong MP Priyanka Gandhi as Oppn protests over rising air pollution in North India

Addressing the Rajya Sabha session, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the deteriorating air quality across the country, particularly in Delhi-NCR, and asserted that their "400 par slogan" is now complete, as the AQI crossed 400 across the national capital and adjoining areas in recent days, news agency ANI reported.

The BJD leader said that the rising pollution levels were severely impacting children, senior citizens, and the general population.

"Air pollution causes many children, senior citizens and ordinary people to suffer from lung diseases like asthma. If you can see, air pollution is going up every day and the condition is mainly worsening in Delhi-NCR. The 400 par slogan 'Safal Hoya Hai' has reached 400 in Delhi and air pollution in Delhi has reached 400," she said, referring to the soaring Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the national capital.

Deo also highlighted that crores of people across India, including thousands in Odisha, were affected by prolonged exposure to toxic air. She questioned the development model that requires cutting trees and harming the environment. (ANI)

Rajya Sabha Congress MP Vivek K Tankha on Thursday expressed concern over the sharp depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar, saying a weakening rupee raises the cost of imports, which in turn adds to inflation, affecting the poor and middle class, as well as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), news agency PTI reported.

Everything, including smartphones, laptops, and medical equipment, becomes costlier because India imports components for most products, he said.

"For the common person, the falling rupee feels like a salary cut without the employer even informing you, your money buys less every day," the Congress MP said. (PTI)

Common Indian families are facing immense difficulties due to exploitation by insurance companies and private hospitals, Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said in Parliament on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

Chadha posted a video of his speech on microblogging site X.

"Today, in Parliament, that pain every common Indian family has suffered -- exploitation by insurance companies and private hospitals -- was spoken about. Sometimes cashless treatment is denied, sometimes claims are rejected, and sometimes a patient has to chase the insurance company for months for reimbursement. This is exploitation," he said in the post in Hindi.

Health insurance should not be a gamble, it must be a guarantee, his post added.

The Opposition MPs on Thursday held a protest in front of Makar Dwar on Parliament premises, against the Centre over air pollution in Delhi-NCR and parts of North India, news agencies PTI and ANI reported sharing visuals.

The MPs were seen wearing an oxygen mask and holding a banner to take a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which read "Mausam ka maza lijiye" (enjoy the weather). This was in reference to PM Modi's address at the start of the Winter Session of Parliament.

Raising the slogans, the leaders demanded a Parliament discussion on air pollution.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest outside the Parliament building.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned on Thursday till 2 pm.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, called air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of North India "not a political issue," urging government to take action.

Vadra said, "Which season should we enjoy? Look at the situation outside. Like Sonia ji said, children are unable to breathe. She has asthma, and senior citizens like her are facing breathing difficulty. The situation keeps getting worse year after year. Only statements are made every year, no concrete action is taken. We have all said that the Govt has to take action and we all stand with them. This is not a political issue that we would point fingers at each other..." (ANI)

Leader of the House of Rajya Sabha Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday, in response to Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's claims that the government is not allowing to have discussions on important topics in the House.

"Sir, I want to clarify only one thing that the Leader of the Opposition said that the government is avoiding holding discussions. The government has not avoided any discussion. Whatever you have asked, we have always given the time. And we have discussed, last session also you asked, we gave you the time for full-fledged discussion. So this impression should not go that the government avoids any discussion."

"We are ready to discuss every topic. At the all-party meeting, we have decided to have discussion on Vande Mataram and the electoral reforms. It's coming in the next week," Nadda added.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, speaking to reporters outside the Parliament on Thursday on air pollution in Delhi-NCR said it was the government's responsibility to act.

"It's the government's responsibility to do something. Children are dying, and elderly people like me are severely impacted by this. They can't breathe... I have also written an article as to what is in my mind and what should be done," she said. (PTI)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to move the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha today, days after introducing it in the Lower House.

The Bill aims to augment the resources for meeting expenditure on national security and for public health, by proprosing to levy a cess on production of goods such as pan masala and any other goods that may be notified by the central government.

Opposition leader Karti Chidambaram on Wednesday said merely hiking a “sin tax” is not going to reduce consumption and that the government needed a holistic plan to reduce consumption and move those employed in the allied industries to give them an alternative source of income.

As the 2025 Parliament Winter Session enters its fourth day, Congress MPs on Thursday moved adjournment motion notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of North India.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, in his notice wrote, “Government remains paralysed, issuing advisories instead of [taking] action, committees instead of solutions, slogans instead of a coordinated national strategy.”

"Even as evidence mounts that pollution increases the risk of cancers, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders and metabolic illnesses like diabetes, this Government refuses to declare pollution a national health priority," Tagore stated.

He demanded a "national clean air mission backed by law, strict liability for polluters, emergency health protocols for exposed populations, and coordinated scientific policymaking."

The party urged the Centre to declare air pollution as a national health emergency. (ANI)