Rajya Sabha Sees Uproar Over Delhi Pollution While Many MPs Skipped The Key Discussion

The air quality in many parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region have turned severe once again on Thursday due to calm winds and high humidity whereas the situation is likely to worsen in the next 24 hours according to weather departments.

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday took up the issue of pollution against this backdrop even as the air quality index has been hitting record levels this season. But instead of finding a concrete solution to the pollution menace, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed disruptions during the much awaited and significant debate.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament Vijay Goel wears a face mask as he arrives at the parliament on a bicycle during the winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi on November 21, 2019/ AFP

Members from the ruling BJP and the opposition led by the AAP and supported by Congress, SP and others were involved in heated exchanges for over 10 minutes when Rajya Sabha assembled after lunch to discuss about rising pollution levels.

Responding to calling attention motion, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that there has been a general improvement in the air quality of Delhi in the last three years.

After he read his statement informing about the steps taken by the Centre on the issue, BJP member Vijay Goel alleged that the Delhi government is not taking proper action to tackle pollution. He also alleged corruption by the Delhi government in distributing 50 lakh masks among the people and said the residents of the national capital are also forced to drink bottled water as tap water was not safe.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in RS: In order to abate and control air pollution in Delhi NCR, we have undertaken several initiatives. A high level task force was constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Secy to the PM. Regular review meetings have been held pic.twitter.com/oyUqjaMLKu

¡ª ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2019

Goel displayed clippings of newspapers with advertisements of air purifiers and also displayed mini oxygen cylinder. This was opposed by AAP members Sanjay Singh and Sushil Gupta. They were supported by other opposition parties including Congress, SP and others. Goel was also asked by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh to stop it.

"You are doing wrong. You cannot display this one. This is not the conduct of an honourable member. You cannot do it without permission of the chair," said Singh.

Singh then called Manoj Kumar Jha to speak on the issue but his speech was interrupted by Goel who kept on speaking and exhibiting clippings with the mini cylinder. After this, heated words were exchanged between members from BJP and the opposition.

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Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan then tried to pacify the house by saying that the government wants a serious debate on the issue and requested the members to put their point only when their turn come. It is unfortunate that such developments come at a time when the capital is choked to the brim and breathing has become a luxury. Health experts and pro-environment groups have pointed to fatal implications that pollution may have on the residents of Delhi.

But it seems nothing is enough to bring politicians together to develop a consensus and a long-term plan to fight pollution. It should also be noted that several benches remained empty as honourable MPs missed the vital discussion.