Numerous protesters demonstrated at the famous India Gate on Sunday night under a heavy police presence as Delhi residents have been dealing with hazardous air quality for weeks. Police detained dozens of demonstrators, claiming that the crowd had assembled without authorisation.
Videos on social media showed officers bundling people in police cars, despite demonstrators' claims that the police had threatened them with FIRs.
Protesters flocked to the India Gate wearing gas masks, carrying children, and brandishing copies of the Constitution. When police detained them, many individuals, including politicians and members of civil society, especially environmentalists, reacted.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi's environment minister, stated as demonstrators occupied India Gate that the previous AAP-led administration "made the air poisonous continuously for 10 years" and that they are challenging the seven-month-old CM Rekha Gupta-led government following its overthrow.
"I want to inform people that although the Rekha Gupta government installed anti-smog guns on high-rise buildings, used water sprinklers to reduce dust, monitored all ongoing construction, made sure that only e-buses were used for public transportation, and used e-vehicles for last-mile connectivity, the damage from ten years cannot be repaired in seven months. They are dishonest since they just used the funds for advertisements. In a video message, Sirsa stated, "We are working to make things better.

Politicians and activists condemn protestors' incarceration
Asserting that the "right to clean air" is a fundamental human right and that nonviolent protestors shouldn't be treated like criminals, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre for targeting residents who were demonstrating against rising air pollution.
He called for swift and decisive action to protect the health and future of millions of Indians, accusing the BJP of "vote chori" and indifference to the growing pollution catastrophe.
"A fundamental human right is the right to clean air. Our Constitution guarantees the freedom to peaceful protest. Why are people being punished like criminals when they have been peacefully demanding clean air? "Our children and the future of our country are being harmed by air pollution, which is affecting crores of Indians," he stated.