For many at the site, it was their first time at a protest. Some were urban environmental activists and social campaigners, while many were business owners and corporate employees.
Evening revellers at India Gate were undeterred by the pungent air of Tuesday evening. The usual tableau of cotton-candy, ice-cream carts, family outings and hand-in-hand lovers played itself out. At the end of the approach road, by the monument itself, punctuating this scenery were a few hundred raising the slogan of clean air.
The placards on show questioned leaders across the political spectrum:
“Dear Modi ji, shut down all the coal-powered energy plants in Delhi NCR permanently today!”
“Dear Khattar sahab, why are you destroying Aravalli Biodiversity Park, the only lung of Gurgaon?”
“Dear Captain sahab, why are you blind to the stubble burning choking Delhi?”
Chants of azadi — “Hum kya chahte? Azadi. Global warming se azadi, gandi hawa se azadi” — too floated around from time to time.
For many at the site, it was their first time at a protest. Some were urban environmental activists and social campaigners, while many were business owners and corporate employees.
Aditya Chhatwani, a wholesale garment businessman from Civil Lines, said he came for the protest due to the “inaction of the government” and the “need for immediate measures”.
“It’s actually the first time I’ve come out like this. It’s because the situation is so extreme. As individuals, the best thing we can do right now is spread awareness,” he said.
He had travelled to the protest by Metro that evening, but he and his friend Dipankar Grover said that they did end up using their cars regularly because “you need a car in the city”.
Shera Banu, a resident of Gurgaon, held the Union minister of environment responsible for the crisis. “The entire issue is very complex with a mix of factors and it is not for us to be suggesting measures. I cycle to work every day but that won’t change the larger picture — it is for them to make sure everyone takes these steps,” she said.
She was also aware of the class composition of the assembled group. “Rich people should be here because we can be. We should be speaking out because others might not be able to,” she said.
Some protesters also brought along children from government schools and safai workers they work with through NGOs. Among the clearest voices of the gathering were from a group of students studying at NDMC schools around Gole Market.
“We should stop bursting crackers. This year, I only lit diyas and candles and ate sweets,” said 16-year-old Rohan.
“The factories need to be checked and the number of cars should be reduced,” said 14-year-old Neeraj.
“We need better than odd-even. What’s it to rich people — they can just buy one more car so that they can ply on both dates,” said 17-year-old Kajal.
