Delhi has been grappling with hazardous air quality for the past few days, with toxic smog engulfing many areas. The ineffective measures to tackle the air pollution have angered many residents who took to the streets to protest, demanding immediate government action. Visuals showed Delhi residents, mostly students, protesting at India Gate on Sunday (November 9, 2025), demanding that the government formulate policies that help curb the recurring crisis in the National Capital region.
Delhi Students Detained At Jantar Mantar
Several students and residents protesting at Jantar Mantar were detained by the police and taken to an unknown site, according to reports. The protest, called by civil society, started in the evening today to demand policies to curb toxic air pollution. The detainees reportedly include female students joined by the JNUSU President, Joint Secretary, and AISA DU President and Secretary.
Hundreds gathered at India Gate today against rise in air pollution detained by Delhi Police
Instead of declaring Climate Emergency at disastrous AQI levels, CM Rekha Gupta is manipulating AQI data and arresting students!
---Advertisement---Free all detained immediately! pic.twitter.com/hLuckrFwxk
— COLLECTIVE Delhi (@COLLECTIVEDelhi) November 9, 2025
‘Common People Are Dying’ Says Resident
Meanwhile, a resident of Delhi told the media that the Air Quality Index (AQI) is touching heights and that they are being evacuated and not allowed to protest peacefully. “Common people are dying. Yet the government is not designing any policies and hiding the data. They are sprinkling water at the data centres… Even the cloud seeding didn’t work. That is, anyway, not a solution. We want a permanent solution… Even the public is fast asleep. Many people are here to watch the show, but they are not raising their voices in protests,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi | A resident of Delhi says, "The AQI is touching heights… We are being evacuated and not allowed to protest peacefully here… Common people are dying. Yet the government is not designing any policies and hiding the data. They are sprinkling water at the data… https://t.co/TLtClPblVp pic.twitter.com/tMJmxQAa0X
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2025
Heavy Security At India Gate
Another video showed the students sitting on the street at India Gate, protesting against the CM Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government. Meanwhile, heavy security was deployed at the site to manage and control the crowd.
#WATCH | Residents of Delhi protest at India Gate, demanding that the government formulate policies to curb air pollution in the National Capital region. pic.twitter.com/G03Ixjd3Dn
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2025
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