Congress criticises Centre for detaining protestors demanding clean air

The Congress on Monday attacked the Centre over the brief detention of several people protesting at India Gate against the worsening air quality and said when the government is failing miserably in its kartavya the people have to fulfil theirsScores of people including parents and environmental activists staged a protest at India Gate on Sunday against the worsening air quality in the national capitalAccording to police several protesters were detained for assembling without permissionThey were later releasedCongress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh said the iconic India Gate is on Kartavya Path so named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himselfThe citizens of Delhi who are protesting for better air quality are only wanting to carry out their own Kartavya under Article 51A g of the Constitution of India which mandates them to protect and improve the natural environment Ramesh said on XSo why are they being prevented by the Delhi Police to register their desperate concern at the atrocious air quality where they live and work the Congress leader saidWhen the government is failing miserably in its Kartavya the people have to fulfil theirs he saidCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday had criticised the government after several people protesting at India Gate against the worsening air quality were detained for assembling without permission and asked why citizens peacefully demanding clean air were being treated like criminalsGandhi had called for decisive action on air pollution right now instead of attacking citizens asking for clean airHe made the remarks on X in response to a post by environmentalist Vimlendu Jha who said that protesters were taken away and shoved in a busGandhi said The right to clean air is a basic human right The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution Why are citizens who have been peacefully demanding clean air being treated like criminalsAir pollution is affecting crores of Indians harming our children and the future of our nation the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha saidBut the government which came to power through vote chori simply doesnt care nor is it even attempting to solve this crisis Gandhi saidWe need to take decisive action on air pollution right now instead of attacking citizens asking for clean air he saidThe protesters many of them mothers accompanied by children said they had gathered to demand urgent government action to ensure clean airDeputy Commissioner of Police New Delhi Devesh Kumar Mahla said the detentions were preventive in natureOnly Jantar Mantar is designated as a protest site where permission can be sought by following due procedure he had saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever