Ahead of the 2026 Union Budget announcement, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked the government to hold a debate in Parliament about air pollution. He said the government should make sure there is “enough money” in the Union Budget to fight this problem.
In a Facebook post, the Congress leader shared messages from citizens who are concerned about rising pollution. In a video, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare air pollution a national health emergency.
‘Declare pollution a national health emergency’
In the video posted online, Rahul Gandhi said, “It is about time the government allows a discussion in Parliament, and the Prime Minister should declare pollution a national health emergency. We need to come together and develop a serious plan. We need to make sure there is enough money in the budget to tackle this problem.”
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi reads out people’s lived experiences of toxic air in our cities, along with the solutions they’ve shared. When citizens speak, Parliament must listen.
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2026
"Parliament must discuss it.
The government must act.
And this Budget must put real resources behind… pic.twitter.com/DNlcfAFLkq
Sharing the post, he added, “Over the last few days, I’ve read thousands of messages from Indians about what pollution is doing to their lives. What stood out was fear, fear for children, for parents, for tomorrow, felt by families in cities across India. Pollution is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a national health emergency. Parliament must discuss it. The government must act. And this Budget must put real resources behind real solutions. Indians are not asking for reports or rhetoric. They are asking for clean air.
The air quality in the national capital remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday morning. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 318 around 8 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came during the Budget Session of Parliament. On Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2026-27. The session will run for 30 sittings over 65 days and will end on April 2. The two Houses will take a recess from February 13 to March 9.
For unversed, ‘Awaaz Bharat Ki’ is an initiative started by Rahul Gandhi to give citizens a direct way to express their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns to his office, according to information available on its official website.
Rahul Gandhi urges citizens to share stories on Air Pollution
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi spoke about both the human and economic cost of worsening air quality. He said, “We are paying a heavy price for air pollution, with our health and with our economy. Crores of ordinary Indians bear this burden every day.”
He stressed that the most vulnerable sections of society are suffering the most. “Children and the elderly suffer the most. Livelihoods, especially of construction workers and daily wage earners, are severely impacted. This crisis cannot be forgotten until next winter. The first step towards change is to raise our voices,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi invited people to participate, saying, “Share your story of how air pollution has affected you or your loved ones at Awaaz Bharat Ki. Your voice matters, and it is my duty to raise it.”
The appeal comes at a time when New Delhi and nearby cities have been facing severe pollution levels over the past few months. The high pollution has caused serious respiratory and other health problems for residents.